Ed Sheeran has opened up about how becoming a parent gave him the motivation to ditch bad habits and lose weight after ballooning to 15 stone.

The Shape of You hit-maker, 30, is gearing up for the release of his fifth studio album = on Friday.

This new record marks his first since becoming a dad last year when he and wife Cherry Seaborn welcomed daughter Lyra, one.

Sheeran credits the tot with helping turn his life around after he fell into a cycle of drinking “every day” and binging on fried food.

Speaking to The Sun, he said: “I think actually taking time off and not being on tour was the worst thing for my health because I would drink every single day.

“I stopped three months before Lyra was born because I was determined I was going to be the person to drive my wife to the hospital.

“I was 15-and-a-half stone at my peak and I think I’m 10-and-a-half now - I was big, it really showed. I had a 36 waist - now I’m down to 28.

He continued: “I always knew I was big, but I knew why I was big too; I loved chicken wings, wine, beer, and I never exercised.

“It was when Cherry was pregnant the penny dropped. Lyra has been the biggest motivation in terms of detoxing my life, and I think it’s a change everyone needs to go through if they’re a parent.”