A St Albans woman is delighted to be named the ‘Greatest Loser’ after losing more than five stone in a year.

Super slimmer, Aine Dorgan, has been awarded first price after she lost the most weight among members in the Radlett Slimming World group.

Ms Dorgan weighed 18st 6lbs when she joined the slimming world in January last year. She has now dropped to 12st 11lbs and said her weight loss has changed her life.

Ms Dorgan said: "I feel like a new woman since losing weight - in fact, I look so different that people who I haven’t seen for a while often can’t believe I’m the same person.

"I even surprised my own family in Ireland who hadn’t seen me for a while. But for me it’s the change on the inside that’s been the biggest - I’m happier, healthier and lots more confident than I have ever been."

Ms Dorgan, who is a client services executive for a security company, said she had tried dieting but was never able to stick to it.

After receiving a leaflet through her front door, she decided to join her local Slimming World group at the village institute with her friend.  

She said: "My partner is a chef and used to work a lot of unsociable hours.  When I got home from work, I didn't cook for myself very often, as I don't like to cook. 

"So before I joined Slimming World, I would eat crisps and chocolate or biscuits for my dinner in the evening. That would satisfy me for a bit, then later on the evening I'd need more, biscuits, chocolate, crisps and other rubbish. Following a hit and run car accident where I was hit badly, my health suffered and I felt worthless, causing my weight to spiral further.

"It got to a stage that I couldn't walk more than ten minutes without stopping and then running out of breath.

"The thing I love about Slimming World is that it’s not a diet; it’s a really generous and healthy way of living."