A Worcester woman who lost more than six-and-a-half stone to reach the semi-final of a slimming competition has been congratulated by one of soap’s nastiest villains.

Emmerdale’s Cain Dingle – also known as actor Jeff Hordley – congratulated Paula Styler on her achievement at the Slimming World’s Woman of the Year 2009 event on Sunday.

Miss Styler, of Whittington, dropped from 16 stone 5lb to 9 stone 10.5lb after joining a Slimming World group which meets at 7pm on Monday at The Cherry Orchard Day Centre, Worcester.

Her diet plan included eating as much fruit and veg, pasta, rice, potatoes, fish, poultry and lean meat as she wanted.

Miss Styler said: “From the instant I walked into my local Slimming World group my journey has been full of surprises.

“I couldn’t believe I’d found a way to lose weight without feeling hungry.

“Then I was named Midlands Woman of the Year, and now I can’t believe I’ve met Cain Dingle – I’m starting to wonder what’s next.”

Ten finalists will now go through to an awards ball in Birmingham in November.