A larger-than-life holidaymaker was stunned when an air stewardess asked eight fat people' to move along to the front of the plane on his journey home.

Postman Peter Harrison, 52, from Arundel Drive, Borehamwood, was returning from a two-week holiday in Tenerife when, just before take-off, the captain requested that larger passengers move forward to balance the weight distribution in the cabin.

Mr Harrison, who weighs 24 stone and was sitting at the back of the half-empty plane, said he was shocked at the way passengers were spoken to. "I couldn't believe what was happening," he said.

"I was all belted up next to my wife when suddenly the stewardess announced over the Tannoy, Would eight fat people please move to the front of the plane to rows 31 to 42'.

"She could have been a bit more diplomatic. She didn't need to say the word fat'. I'd never heard anything like it in my life."

After the announcement, Mr Harrison, along with seven others, moved to the designated seats just before the plane taxied down the runway.

He added: "I found it all quite funny in the end but it was humiliating for anyone large who was asked to move, and there were definitely a few red faces.

"I was too tired to complain as it was 2.30am, but they should definitely apologise for the way they spoke to us."

A spokesman for the airline, Thomsonfly, said: "The flight in question was half full. It became evident, as people started to board, that passengers had all been seated at the rear of the aircraft.

"An announcement was made to all passengers explaining that for take-off and landing passengers needed to be seated evenly throughout the aircraft. Therefore, cabin crew asked for volunteers to move forward.

"Thomsonfly apologise if any customers took this personally."