AS East Lancashire struggles to come to terms with its obesity problems and people find it difficult to shed the pounds one mother has given them a ray of hope.

Wendy Haworth, 42, who weighed 19 and a half stone at the beginning of January has shed more than five and half stone on a special points diet and by attending weight loss classes in Lower Darwen, Blackburn.

She has gone from wearing size 28-30 down to a size 16-18 and is a perfect example of how, with the right amount of willpower and dedication, it can be done.

A report released last month showed four East Lancashire local authorities were in the top 20 of the most obese areas.

It led to Dr Stephen Morton, Director of Public Health for Hyndburn and Ribble Valley, warning that our young were in grave danger from obesity.

There has been a lot said about how obese a nation the UK is becoming, but having the determination to do something is the only way the problem will be solved, according to Wendy's mentor Lorraine Jones.

Lorraine, a Weight Watchers leader who has been running classes for four years, also believes Wendy's achievement should be an example to others.

She said: "She should be very proud. It is a fantastic achievement to lose five and a half stone and it serves as an encouragement to others and shows that it can be done.

"People don't lose weight by thinking about it, they have to do it themselves and Wendy has done that."

Wendy, who has four children and lives in Newton Street, Blackburn, said: "I have had a lot of help from my family, especially my husband, who has been really supportive. I have tried other diets but doing the points system is better. It has really worked for me."

Wendy is hoping to get down to around 11 stone - the "perfect weight" for her height. The diet works by adding up points for the amount of calories in food and allows dieters to treat themselves if they stay within their points target.