THE Euro 2004 hangover has hit East Lancashire as scores of couch potatoes try to work off their footie flab.

After bingeing throughout the competition on a diet of beer and snacks, 521 people joined Weight Watchers groups in the area last week.

Jan Mathews, the area service manager for East Lancashire Weight Watchers, said they have been swamped with fans who have piled on weight during the football. They are all now desperately signing up to the slimming group to lose a few pounds before their summer holidays.

Jan, who has lost more than seven stone, said: "We get about 300 people joining every week but this week over 500 have enrolled with us.

"The reason is Euro 2004. People have been having more nights out down at the pub, eating snacks and pizza and are now worried that they won't lose weight before they go away. I was speaking to a couple of ladies at a meeting and they told me that with the football their healthy eating routine has gone out of the window."

Football food does not have to be fattening. Here are some low-fat and low-calorie alternatives to keep fans sustained throughout the most exhilarating of matches.

A pint of beer contains 182 calories - almost as many as a chocolate bar - yet refreshing summer drinks such as gin and slimming tonic, vodka and diet coke or Bacardi and diet lemonade average only 55 calories per glass. A glass of wine contains half the calories of a pint of beer and drinking red wine can be good for your heart.

A Mars bar has 294 calories and 11.4 grams of fat. If you fancy something sweet, choose a jelly sweet like jelly babies or fruit gums. They are lower in calories, contain no fat and the sugar is quickly used by the body for energy.

Top of the calorie league table is the Big Mac, wading in with 492 calories and a massive 23 grams of fat. Just one piece of margharita pizza can contain 171 calories, so why not make your own healthier alternative or snack on pretzels, fruit, nuts or popcorn to keep the munchies at bay?