AN EARLS Colne slimmer who lost almost three stone in six months and raised almost £1,500 for charity in the process has been named Woman of the Year.

Primary school teacher Sophie Mason, 24, lost 2st 13lbs in just six months after joining Earls Colne Slimming World in January because she was growing increasingly unhappy with her size.

As well as following a slimming plan, the reception teacher at St Andrew’s Primary in Great Yeldham completed the coast to coast walk, from St Bees in Cumbria to Robin Hood’s Bay, via the Lake District and the Yorkshire Dales, to raise money for the Young Minds charity.

She said: “I started to put on weight after going to university. I tried lots of different diets but they usually left me feeling hungry or miserable, or both.

“As the weight started to come off and I began moving down dress sizes – I’ve gone from a size 16 to a 12 – I started to believe I could actually lose the weight and keep it off.

“Losing the weight has made such a huge difference, it’s changed my life.

“I enjoy being active now rather than thinking of it as a chore, I love walking, in fact my fitness improved so much that in July I was able to complete the Coast to Coast walk, 200 miles across England, on my own in just 11 days to raise money for the Young Minds charity.

“So far I have raised £1,452 for the charity and I’m so proud of having been able to do this.”

Visit Sophie’s JustGiving page at www.justgiving.com/fundraising/ Sophies-C2C.

The Slimming World group is held every Tuesday from 5.30pm to 7.30pm at The Colne Valley Golf Club.

Call 07941 965832 for more information.