A HAMPSHIRE mum has told how her addiction to chocolate almost killed her.

Tracey New's weight ballooned to 23 stone at the height of the problem as she munched her way through 16 bars a day.

The 41-year-old auxiliary nurse used to squeeze into a size 32 uniform and was so fat she couldn't paint her toenails.

Now, as thousands of people prepare to indulge in chocolate eggs, chocoholic Tracey, pictured left, will fight to keep her obsession under control.

Despite shedding an amazing six stone in the past year, the mum of three still loves to feed her habit - and she could even be forced to take her children's Easter eggs to a neighbour in order to get a good night's sleep.

Tracey said: "Just like an alcoholic needs drink, I have been obsessed by chocolate.

"When I look back I realise how stupid I have been - I could have killed myself because of chocolate. I still eat it but I have got more control over it now."

Ironically, the Southampton General Hospital nurse used to suffer from being underweight and was advised by her GP to eat a Mars bar a day for glucose.

At 25 her thyroid became overactive and the weight piled on - but Tracey used her medical condition as an excuse to overeat.

Tracey, who lives in Bitterne with husband Steve, became quite literally addicted to chocolate, guzzling 16 bars a day, washed down with six litres of sugary cola drink.

"I was ashamed but I couldn't stop it. People didn't realise how heavy I was - I got very clever at hiding it," said Tracey.

"We always have lots of Easter eggs for the children and my husband Steve and I would share a big one between us as well as having other boxes of chocolate too.

"Christmas was the worst time - we would have one of every type of family size tin of chocolates and we would eat the lot," she said.

So ashamed of her gorging Tracey used to hide the evidence from friends and family.

"I was eating in secret and making sure I threw away the empty fizzy drink bottles and chocolate wrappers."

That was until a persuasive friend cajoled Tracey into enrolling at a local slimming club.

"I go to my class on a Tuesday and when I get back I always have some chocolate, whether I have lost weight or not - it's my treat.

"I don't think I can ever say that I won't weaken - you hear of people who don't smoke for 25 years and then start again, and I feel the same about the chocolate."

Tracey has set herself strict rules. She will not eat chocolate upstairs in her home - and she only ever eats it when she has someone with her.

"Losing the weight has really helped my confidence. I have gone from a size 32 uniform to 20 - and I am still only halfway towards my goal weight.

"When I lost four stone I could finally paint my own toenails - before it had been impossible," she said.

Tracey's husband Steve,46, a foundry worker, was so impressed with his wife's efforts he decided to join the Slimming World club at West End as well. He was overweight and had suffered a heart attack two years ago.

But now he has lost five stone, too.

"We have totally changed what we eat. We've just discovered spinach - and we love it. We are eating it with everything."

There are Easter eggs in Tracey's house this weekend - but so far she's not been tormented by the thought of them.

"If I was having a bad time, I would have to let a neighbour look after them because I wouldn't be able to sleep with the thought of them being in the house," she said.