VIVIEN Taylor is a shadow of her former self, and she couldn't be more delighted!

For the mum-of-four from Newton-le-Willows has joined the ranks of the super slimmers after shedding six stones.

Vivien's weight ballooned to 16 stones after she became pregnant with her twin girls, Jay and Michelle, seven years ago.

Then, in 1996, she joined her local Slimming World class in desperation.

She said: "I saw my reflection one day while I was out shopping and I decided that enough was enough."

Despite finding the going tough at first, Vivien, who also has two other daughters, 14-year-old Kerry and five-months-old Sarah, stuck at it. And she reckons meeting her future husband in 1998 was one of the things which kept her going.

"When I met Graham I was a size 20 but within a year I was down to a size 10. I haven't been this slim since my teens and eating healthily has become such a way of life that I don't have a problem keeping the weight down. In fact, I only put on seven pounds when I was pregnant with Sarah and the week after I had her, I lost over a stone so I was actually underweight.

"My class have been fantastic and I would recommend it to anyone."

Slimming World classes are held at the Swan Hotel, Swan Road, Newton, on Thursdays from 10am to noon, 5 to 7pm and 7 to 9pm.

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