A Kent MP has slammed a new NHS scheme which will pay people money if they lose weight.

Hundreds of volunteers are being sought by NHS Eastern and Coastal Kent to take part in a trial which will pay them between £70 and £425 if they achieve personal weight loss targets.

But Maidstone MP Ann Widdecombe said there are better things for the NHS to spend its money on at a time when money is scarce.

She said: "If the NHS had money to spare I would say there is nothing wrong with it - but the NHS doesn’t. Given there are a lot of things it cannot do it has to weigh up how it spends money.

"Some things people have no control over whatsoever and those are the people who need help. The fact is people can control their own weight and when money is scarce they shouldn’t be paid to do so."

~ Audio: Hear more from Ann Widdecombe's interview with kmfm about the cash incentive for weight loss >>>

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In all 300 men and women are being urged to sign up online to the scheme. More than 150 people in the UK have already tried out the idea.

Weight Wins – who launched the trial in conjunction with NHS Eastern and Coastal Kent - said the financial incentives helped people lose significant amounts of weight and maintain the loss.

Public health specialist for the NHS in east Kent Claire Martin said: "Achieving a healthier weight and encouraging people to choose a healthier lifestyle are major issues for the health service.

"This scheme will be ideal for people who have tried to lose weight before but have found it difficult to make progress."

www.nhsweightlosstrial.com