FOR Cathy Brotherton size really does matter.

And, having just shed an amazing ten-and-a-half stone in little more than 12 months, this trim mother-of-two wants to spread the word.

Cathy, 40, from Morecambe, was diagnosed as clinically obese by doctors after she reached a life-threatening 20-and-a-half stone.

Now, after her long battle to beat the bulge, ten-stone Cathy is championing the power of slimming organisation Weightwatchers by managing a class of her own in Leyland.

She explained: "Once upon a time, I had a job to walk something like 50 yards and needed help getting in and out of the bath.

"My health was obviously not very good, so I really needed to do something about it.

"But for me, the final straw came when I went to watch my two young children in a school play a couple of years ago.

"As I sat down in the audience, the chair collpased beneath me -- which motivated me to do something about my weight.

"People treat me completely differently now I've lost the weight.

"I remember going in to a high-street store with my 15-year-old daughter a couple of years ago.

"A young shop assistant came over and pointed at me and said 'there's nothing in our shop that will fit you'.

"She made me feel completely awful in front of lots of busy shoppers.

"Now, twelve months on and having lost the weight, I found myself going back to the shop and I was treated totally differently by the very same shop assistant.

"The shop assistant couldn't do enough to help me.

"Unfortunately large, overweight people are treated very much like second-class citizens, but people with a weight problem need to know just how easy it can be to lose weight.

"All I would say is that people should try and lose weight for themselves-- not for anyone else.

"My husband and two children have been completely 100 per cent behind me during my weight loss.

"They have given my all their support which really has helped in an enormous way.

"I love my job as a Weightwatchers leader.

"I would urge anyone to come along to my class in Leyland to see what Weightwatchers is all about.

"It helped me, and I'm sure it will help you too."

Cathy holds regular Weightwatchers classes at the Royal British Legion, School Lane, Leyland.

If you would like further information give Cathy a call on (01524) 831268.