Super slimmer Katy Wicks halved her dress size and doubled her confidence, after losing more than 8st. The inspiring 34-year-old mum, of Farriers Way, Houghton Regis, has dropped from a dress size 24 to a slender 12.

Her slimming story has had a happy ending, with the help of Weight Watchers - and now she is even a group leader herself.

Katy and husband Sean, 39, a lorry driver, have one son, Louis, 11, and a four-year-old daughter, Jessica. The devoted mum, who is 5ft 5ins tall, was a size 12 until she had children, but started comfort eating while dealing with the baby blues.

Her weight climbed steadily and had reached 19st 5lbs by the time she went to her first Weight Watchers meeting. Now, two years on, she weighs in at just 10st 12lbs, thanks to using the POINTS and KickStart plans, and walking up to three miles a day.

Katy said: 'I have so much confidence... I'm a different person.'

Health problems affecting some of her relatives, including type two diabetes and heart conditions, sparked her determination to deal with her weight once and for all.

She was supported all the way by her "fantastic" Weight Watchers leader Clare Martin, who runs several Monday sessions at the Salvation Army Worship and Community Centre, in Bull Pond Lane.

Katy ate more healthily with the help of the POINTS plan and lost weight steadily, even though no types of food are banned. "If you want a Mars bar, you can have a Mars bar - but something else will have to go. With the POINTS plan, you do eat sensibly," she said.

The former London fashion store manager is thrilled to be able to slip into any off-the-peg outfits in her slimline size. But the real reward is just being able to run about and join in more fun with her children.

She still walks as much as possible, often on the Downs or in Whipsnade Zoo. "At one stage, I couldn't remember the last time I'd put petrol in my car, because I was walking so much," she said. "In this day and age, that's a massive incentive!"

Her advice to anyone worried about their weight is to take a first step towards dealing with it, whether for them that means going to their doctor, checking out weight loss options or, like Katy, joining a friendly Weight Watchers group.

Katy runs Weight Watchers groups at Dunstable Leisure Centre on Saturdays, and also runs sessions in Luton and Bletchley.