An obese British flier forced to buy two plane tickets due to his size.

Les Price, who tips the scales at a mammoth 518 pounds. The 43-year-old, from Newport in South Wales, said he prepaid for the extra seat in advance because he knew he was over the 280-pound single limit.

"When I got to the airport I had to explain to all the staff why I had two tickets," he said.

"They didn't have a clue. When I finally got on the plane one was an aisle seat and the other was by the window — in a three-seat row," he said.

"On the way back from Ireland one seat was in row 17 and the other in row 19," he added.