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Glasgow council has denied it refused to let a couple adopt because they were too fat, writes Nicola Barry.

Margaret Kyme, who weighs 22 stone, claims Glasgow council turned down her application to adopt "because she was too fat".

Kyme and her partner, Bill O’Neill, who are both in their forties, are claiming they have been discriminated against.

The couple previously applied to adopt when they lived in Lancashire. When they moved to Scotland last year, their application was in its final stage.

They made representations to Glasgow council, but, after a medical, were told they were not suitable.

A Glasgow council spokesperson confirmed that the adoption panel, which is made up of health care professionals as well as elected councillors, had recommended the couple’s application should not be accepted for medical reasons.

The spokesperson said smoking was not usually an issue, although it had been in this case. "Of course, the medical problems caused by obesity are always an issue. In this case it was a combination of health problems which stood against the couple."

The spokesperson said: "Nobody at any stage told them they were too fat to adopt."