A STOURPORT woman who dropped eight dress sizes and lost six stone in 12 months is to start her own class to show others how it can be done.

Alison Everley, 32, was too depressed to leave her home after the birth of her second child five years ago and, in a last-ditch effort to lose weight, joined a class run by the Slimming World group.

From there the weight dropped off, said Alison, of Titton Lane, who lost half a stone in her first week.

The mum-of-two said: "This has changed my life completely. I am now able to do things I never thought possible such as scuba diving on the Great Barrier Reef.

"The programme suited me perfectly - you never think you are on a diet."

Alison, who is training to be a teacher, went from 16 to 10 stone and from a size 20 dress to a shapely size 12 thanks to the programme, which forces the body to draw on its own stores of body fat to convert it to energy.

She said: "The encouragement and support from the members of the class kept me motivated until I reached my target weight."

Now Alison is looking forward to marrying her partner John next year in Fiji and starting the class, which does not feature any exercise.

The first meeting will take place at Areley Kings Methodist Church on Tuesday at 7.30pm. For more information call 01299 824003.