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Lancashire News

Lancashire News

Walmsley Primary School and Egerton Park in Bolton today saw a special visit from Tour of Britain mascot ToBi to present them with their trophy for winning the National Land Art competition. The 2019 Tour of Britain finished with a spectacular Greater Manchester stage, that saw the world’s top professional cyclists race through all ten boroughs of the city, including Bolton, before the finish in the heart of the city, where Mathieu van der Poel was crowned Tour of Britain winner.

The Egerton community came together with Walmsley Primary School to create the winning cycling installation that was shown around the world on the race’s live television coverage, and came out on top in the public vote via tourofbritain.co.uk

“Once again the reception to the Tour of Britain Land Art competition was outstanding and we had some truly exceptional entries from across the country. I would like to congratulate the whole community in Egerton on their award, but also for their work in helping so many people to enjoy and be involved in the Greater Manchester stage of the Tour”, said Tour of Britain Race Director Mick Bennett.

Bolton Council leader, Cllr David Greenhalgh, said, “I’m thrilled that Walmsley Primary School and Egerton Park have won the National Land Art competition. To come top among so many fantastic entries from across the UK is testament to the hard work and creativity of everyone involved.
“From Bromley Cross and Egerton to Horwich and Blackrod, I was so proud of the way everyone came out to support the event and cheer on the competitors. The support and enthusiasm of the local community is part of why major sporting events like the Tour of Britain want to come to Bolton.”
Commenting on the presentation, Cllr Samantha Connor from Bolton Council and Miriam Shamir from the Play team said, “We were very excited that the Tour of Britain was coming to Bolton and passing right through our village so wanted to get the whole community involved to support the cyclists.

“Along with the Play team and Walmsley Primary School we created our land art Installation on Egerton Park and Bolton Council provided T-shirts for all the children to spell out ‘Bolton’. “This combined with the Play team’s fun activities, face painter and an ice cream van provided an exciting and memorable day for everyone as the Tour of Britain raced past.

“We were thrilled to be shortlisted and then to actually win is an honour and a credit to every single person involved within our community!” Egerton Park and Walmsley Primary School follow in the footsteps of the South Molton Farmers from Devon that won the inaugural land art competition in 2018.

The 2020 Tour of Britain is a part of the new UCI ProSeries and will take place between Sunday 6 and Sunday 13 September, starting in Cornwall for the first time and finishing in the Granite City of Aberdeen eight days later. In October race organisers SweetSpot announced that they are looking for a new title partner for the 2020 race, following the successful conclusion of a three year partnership with OVO Energy.

The Tour of Britain is British Cycling’s premier road cycling event, giving cycling fans the opportunity to see the world’s best teams and riders competing on their doorstep and helping to build a great cycling nation.

Lancashire News

OLDHAM Council and its partners are encouraging people to consider volunteering as part of the final week of its New Year New You campaign. Thousands of people volunteer in Oldham each year and there is room for more to give just a small part of their time to help others as well as gaining personal benefits such as to their health. Studies have found that when people stop thinking about their own problems and focus on someone other than themselves, stress levels start to decrease. And playing a role in the local community is a very important part of Oldham’s great heritage.
Councillor Arooj Shah Oldham Council Deputy Leader and Cabinet Lead for Social Justice and Communities, said:

“January is a great time for people to set personal goals and volunteering is one of those ‘hidden gems’ that people who give time to help others say they wished they had started sooner.

“For children and young people, volunteering builds social skills and develops awareness that proves very attractive to future employers.
“For older people, the benefits of volunteering show up quickly and have long-term effects. For example, the benefits of consistent socializing include better brain function and lower risk for depression and anxiety.

“And for all those busy people who think they haven’t got time to volunteer, just a couple of hours volunteering a week can prove a fun distraction from the stresses of everyday lives.” Action Together is an accredited Volunteer Centre in Oldham that helps both individuals find a suitable place to volunteer as well as working with organisations to advertise suitable opportunities.

Based in offices in Manchester Chambers (just off West Street), Oldham Town Centre, Action Together offers a range of support to strengthen communities. Their belief is that by learning together, sharing skills and pooling resources more can get done.

Nayan Joshi, Senior Partnerships & Project Officer at Action Together, said: “It is great to think that one person’s efforts can change the life of someone else in Oldham. However, the best part, and often overlooked, is that volunteering is just plain fun. ​“We support people to get help, providing opportunities to get better connected to what is going on in their local community and find the support they need.

“We also strengthen community and voluntary groups by providing support to run their group, find and secure resources and work together to do more.”

For more detail go to Action Together’s website www.actiontogether.org.uk and to find out more about Oldham Council’s New Year New You campaign go to https://www.oldham.gov.uk/newyearnewyou

Lancashire News

Bury town centre has been awarded Purple Flag status for a fifth consecutive year in recognition of its thriving night time economy.
Purple Flag is a town and city centre award – similar to the Green Flag for Parks and Blue Flag for beaches – which promotes excellence in the evening and night time economy and aims to raise the standard and broaden the appeal of town and city centres between 6pm and 6am. Areas awarded the Purple Flag are recognised for providing a vibrant and diverse mix of dining, entertainment and culture while promoting the safety and wellbeing of visitors and local residents.

Bury is one of only two town centres in Greater Manchester to fly the Purple Flag, having been the only town across GM for the last four years.
The accolade comes as Bury starts 2020 as the first GM Town of Culture, which includes plans for a multitude of family-friendly ‘Happy’ events inspired by the legacy of Bury’s own Victoria Wood. Councillor David Jones, leader of Bury Council and chair of the Purple Flag Steering Group, said:

“We are delighted to receive this prestigious award for the fifth year in a row, and the timing could not have been better. “I had the pleasure of picking up our first Purple Flag years ago, and our fifth flag is a tribute to all the efforts that partners across Bury have put in to maintain our high standards. “We will continue to work together to ensure that Bury continues to go from strength to strength and offers an enjoyable and safe evening out for everyone.’’

To retain Purple Flag Status, the Bury team had to provide detailed information for a range of criteria including, cleanliness and safety, movement and transport, the range of attractions, entertainment and events, high quality environment and strong partnership working.

The team has recently been working to strengthen the Town Centre Pub Watch group, support the Street Pastor service (who help vulnerable people on a night out), improve safety standards across the taxi/hackney carriage service and work towards a Best Bar None scheme which will be led by Greater Manchester Police. This programme, supported by the Home Office, is designed to improve standards within licensed premises through partnership working with the licensed trade, police and Bury Council.

The aim is to create safer, busier and more successful businesses coupled with reduced levels of crime and disorder. Not only has Bury retained Purple Flag accreditation but it has also been selected by the Purple Flag Panel as a finalist for the Purple Flag Award in the “Movement” category. This reflects the strong partnership working with TfGM and the authorities continued work to ensure that all town centre users have a range of safe options to travel to and from Bury.

The town will be up for the award with two other areas chosen from other Purple Flag rounds, with the winner being announced at the Association of Town and City management (ATCM) and Purple Flag awards in June 2020 in Cardiff. John Locke, chair of Bury Pub Watch, said: “This is fantastic news and reflects the ongoing hard work of the Bury Purple Flag partners including Pub Watch and GMP. We are determined to create an expanding and improved quality offer for Bury, and ensure all of our customers can enjoy a safe, enjoyable night out in Bury.

We will continue to work with all partners to improve standards, support our evening economy businesses and ensure Bury offers entertainment for all age groups.” The Purple Flag assessor commented: “I was exceedingly impressed with the commitment and enthusiasm of the Purple Flag Assessment Team and partners during the assessment. Their pride in the town was palpable. I have no hesitation in recommending Bury for retention of their Purple Flag status. They are leading the way for Greater Manchester authorities.”

For more details about Bury being the first GM Town of Culture, go to https://www.mynewsdesk.com/uk/bury-council/pressreleases/get-happy-bury-secures-prestigious-greater-manchester-town-of-culture-accolade-2955167

Lancashire News

A prolific flytipper, who repeatedly dumped rubbish in the street behind her home, spent a weekend in the cells before being ordered to complete 100 hours of community service. In the strongest message yet that flytipping will not be tolerated, Livia Krskova was hauled before Bolton Magistrates’ Court for numerous waste offences.

The court heard how Bolton Council enforcement officers found a mattress, a bed frame and a fridge-freezer behind Krskova’s Woodfield Street home in August last year. The discovery was made just 24 hours after she had failed to attend court charged with an earlier flytipping offence. Krskova, 38, admitted leaving the items in the public street but again failed to attend a court hearing scheduled for the following month.

As a result, a warrant was issued for her arrest. A further offence was discovered in November when officers noted 29 black bin bags of household waste dumped in the same spot at the rear of the property in Woodfield Street. The rubbish was easily linked to the Krskova’s address and the offence was added to her growing list of charges. Krskova was eventually arrested on Saturday (Jan 18) before spending two days in custody ahead of a magistrates’ hearing on Monday morning. The court ordered her to pay a £100 fine and £90 victim surcharge for each of the August and November offences. She was also handed 12 Month Community Order which will see her complete 100 hours of unpaid work. Bolton Council’s Executive Cabinet Member for Environmental Regulatory Services, Cllr Anne Galloway, said: “I welcome this tough sentence which I hope will serve as a deterrent to the small minority who choose to blight our neighbourhoods and public spaces.

“This is a particularly shocking case of an individual who has shown utter disregard for her neighbours and repeatedly failed to take responsibility for her own actions. “Not only has she spent time in custody, but she will now spend 100 hours giving back to the community she has harmed. “As a council we are very clear that flytipping is an inexcusable crime. If you offend, you will be prosecuted like any other criminal.”

Lancashire News

Two men who targeted several businesses in Ormskirk during a burglary spree have been jailed. Lee Brown, 26, of Muirhead Avenue, Liverpool and Kurtis Nelson, 26, of Kemsley Road, Liverpool, were arrested in January after raiding a number of addresses across Lancashire and Greater Manchester.

Around 10pm on January 5, three men broke into the Costa coffee shop in Ormskirk before stealing more than £460 from the safe and making off from the scene in a white Audi, reported stolen from an address in Wigan in December.

The same offenders were later seen breaking into the Post House Bar in Orrell in the early hours of January 6, smashing a glass window and stealing £200 from a safe and till.

The group then returned to Ormskirk around 5.20am on January 6, breaking into Spit Roast restaurant and stealing cash before accessing the adjoining The Buck I’Th’ Vine, setting off an alarm. Police arrived with one officer, who attempted to arrest two of the men, hit on the leg with a crow bar by Nelson. The officer attempted to arrest the offenders, with one making off on foot and Nelson jumping into the Audi, driven by Brown.
The Audi was pursued and traced to an address in Kirkby, Liverpool. Brown and Nelson were arrested with safe and till drawers from the Spit Roast and Post House Bar seized from inside the Audi.

Nelson and Brown were both charged with three burglary offences and an offence of handling stolen goods. Brown was also charged with driving while disqualified, dangerous driving, driving without insurance and failing to stop. Nelson was given a further charge for assault with intent to resist arrest. Both pleaded guilty last month, with Brown jailed for 50 weeks and Nelson jailed for 38 weeks at Preston Crown Court yesterday (Monday, February 10).

Det Insp Steve Monk, of Lancashire Police, said: “Brown and Nelson are brazen and prolific offenders who went on a relentless crime spree targeting a number of addresses, including Ormskirk. “Thanks to the quick actions of officers, the trio were found caught in the act. Unfortunately one of the offenders made off from the scene, but Nelson and Brown were pursued and later arrested in the Liverpool area. “This was a great cross-border response with excellent work by all involved. “The officer attacked by Nelson thankfully suffered minor injuries and soon returned to work.”

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  1. Wrap up on walks
    It may be cosy indoors, but your dog needs regular walks regardless of the weather. When out on walks it’s important to make sure your four-legged friends are wrapped up warm. Put a dog coat on them when you go out, especially if you have a fine-coated dog, such as a Greyhound or Staffie.
  2. Check for snow between their toes
    Check your dog’s paws and dry them thoroughly after they’ve been outside. This is especially important with long-haired dogs as they are prone to snow compacting between their toes and turning into ice balls which can prove very painful. If they are agreeable, you could trim the long hair between your dog’s toes to help prevent this.
  3. Check for salt and grit between their toes
    Clean their paws at the end of your walk as salt and grit from roads and pavements can also get lodged between their toes.
  4. Keep them warm and dry
    Dry off wet and muddy dogs after walks and make sure they have a cosy bed to return to which is away from any cold draughts.
  5. Keep them active indoors
    Some dogs can be very reluctant to venture out into the cold. If this is the case, do not force them out but make sure you provide them with lots of toys for them to play and keep them occupied while indoors.
  6. Adjust their food if necessary
    If you do find that your dog is less active in the winter months, make sure you adjust the amount of food you give them accordingly to avoid weight gain.
  7. Make sure they have good recall
    Cold weather often brings reduced visibility in foggy or snowy weather conditions. If you’re letting them off the lead, make sure your dog has good recall to avoid them getting lost and, as always, make sure their microchip details are up to date with your correct contact information.
  8. Make them visible
    As the nights draw in earlier and the sun rises later, attach a small light to your dog’s collar so they can be seen when out on walks in reduced visibility.
  9. Never leave your dog in the car unattended
    Just as cars can become fatally hot in summer months, temperatures can drop very quickly in cold weather. Always take your dog with you rather than leaving them in the car for any length of time.
  10. Stay away from frozen lakes and rivers
    Keep your dog away from stretches of frozen water as it’s impossible to tell how secure the surface is. Keep them on a lead if you think they’ll be tempted to jump in.
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Let’s face it: there is a huge amount of information online about how to shed the pounds and get in shape. Wading into this endless stream of advice can be both confusing and overwhelming. And, when you take into account the new fads that seemingly pop up every day, the situation only becomes more dire. After all, who can keep up with all the raw food plans, prepackaged menus, and liquid cleanses that are constantly promoted in our social feeds?

The main problem with these very restrictive diets is that they only lead to short-term weight loss at best. That’s because most people cannot maintain them consistently and end up giving up after a couple of weeks. Losing 10 pounds a week on a fad diet may seem tempting, but it often results in unhealthy and unsustainable weight loss.

The real secret to healthy and successful weight loss is to adopt a lifestyle that you can maintain for the long run. This involves changing your diet, following a regular workout schedule, and taking the right supplements for your body’s needs. With that in mind, here are 5 other tips to help you achieve your weight and fitness goals:

Eat Better at Breakfast
While all meals are important, breakfast is the most crucial one of all. That’s because it helps you start your days on the right track. A hearty, healthy breakfast will fill you up and give you optimal satisfaction for longer periods of time. Your goal should be to eat between 400 to 500 calories at breakfast. Build a meal that includes lean proteins (nuts or eggs), fibers (fruits or vegetables), and whole grains.

Say Goodbye to Added Sugar
The main reason for most lifestyle diseases such as obesity, diabetes, and heart disease is added sugars – especially from sugary beverages and soft drinks. Processed foods in general contain a lot of added sugars and do not provide any of the nutrients your body needs to stay healthy. Instead, jump on Nutribullet bandwagon and replace sugary drinks with healthier, green smoothie options. For most people, the fastest way to lose excess weight is simply by cutting out foods that are high in added sugars from their diet.
Keep in mind that many “organic” or “healthy” foods can also have very high sugar content, so reading labels should be a regular part of your shopping process.

Start Lifting Weights
While changing your diet can help you lose a lot of weight fast, nothing beats keeping your body fit with regular exercise. Your best option is to visit the gym at least three or four times a week, doing some warm up, and lifting some weights. This form of exercise is ideal because it helps you burn off a lot of calories. It also keeps your metabolism from slowing down – a typical side effect of weight loss. You can also speed this process up with a fat burning supplement such as the range available at www.myelite health.co.uk. If lifting weights isn’t your cup of tea, then look for workout plans such as the massively popular Joe Wicks workout to get you moving in the comfort of your own home.

Cook More
Did you know that research shows that cooking more meals at home can promote healthy eating and weight loss? Eating out is fun, but it should not be your daily go-to. Instead, save the restaurants for special occasions and start eating more home-cooked meals. This is a great way of sticking to your healthy diet plan and keeping your weight in check.

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Thinking about marrying abroad but worried that your grandparents won’t be able to make it? Perhaps your close friends and family can’t afford an overseas holiday or maybe you’d rather just get away on your own. Weigh up your options here with our list of pros and cons to help you decide.
The biggest issue with getting married abroad tends to be that not everyone on your guest list will be able to make it. So if your grandmother has always dreamed of being at your wedding but is unable to travel, don’t be surprised if she seems upset when you drop the bombshell that you’ve decided to get married abroad. Do reassure anyone who can’t make it that you’ll have a second reception when you’re back in the UK.

Pros
You’ll be able to take your vows in the open air and celebrate your special day in an exotic or unusual location, with different food, flowers and music to complement your wedding.


Getting married abroad can often be less expensive than the average British wedding. Many couples buy their own tickets and, while the bride’s family may pay for the wedding package, it’s acceptable for guests to pay their own way.

You can invite just a small handful of family and friends to the wedding, so you’re only with people that you really want to celebrate with. It’s the ideal excuse for not inviting your 20 odd cousins and all their children.

Alternatively, you can jet off alone and get married in a romantic, private ceremony, just the two of you. If you book through a travel operator, they’ll do practically all the organising, leaving you plenty of time for dress shopping and planning your honeymoon!

If you’d rather be totally involved in the planning process, you can opt for a tailor-made wedding.

Cons
Friends and family might not be able to afford to travel abroad, or be able take the time to go further afield. You might upset people who’ve been left off your list – but you may be able to ease some disappointment by having a big bash when you get home. You won’t have as much control over the organising as you would at home.

You might end up regretting not inviting family members if you jet off alone. If it’s just the two of you, you’ll need to rope in a stranger to act as witness. Although your wedding abroad may work out cheaper initially, if you put on a second reception in the UK for all those who couldn’t make it, you can end up paying as much or more than you would have done if you’d married in the UK in the first place!

Even if you head for tropical climes, you can’t guarantee sunny weather. And remember, unless you head off for a second week somewhere else, you might be stuck on honeymoon with your friends and family!

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Whether it’s lunch with work colleagues or an evening celebrating with friends, most of us tend to eat less healthily when we eat in restaurants, pubs and cafes. Senior Dietitian Victoria Taylor offers her tips for eating out without overdoing it.

Believe it or not, it is possible to eat, drink and be merry without overdoing it. Here are my tips for having a good time while keeping an eye on your waistline and good health.

  1. How often are you eating out?
    A one-off meal out probably won’t make any difference to your health in the grand scheme of things, so enjoy it. However, if it’s one of many, consider carefully how it fits into your overall diet. This could mean having a lighter meal in the evening, like soup or a sandwich, if you had a big meal earlier in the day. Or you could choose the healthiest menu options to make the meal fit into your normal diet, rather than just going for your favourites.
  2. Check what’s on the menu
    Don’t be afraid to ask the restaurant to adapt dishes
    One of the best ways to ensure you make healthy choices when eating out is to check the menu before you arrive, whether online or in person. It means you can choose your meal without others influencing you. Many larger restaurant chains offer nutritional information online.
  3. How many courses?
    The tendency when we eat out is to have more than we would at home. Sticking to just one course once you see what everyone else is having is hard. Decide before you begin if you are going to have a starter or a dessert, and which one you’ll find easier to decline. Having a coffee or cup of tea while others have a pudding is a good way to round off a meal, or you could share a pudding with others.
  4. Adapt your dishes
    Don’t be afraid to ask the restaurant to adapt dishes. It’s not usually a problem to replace chips with a jacket potato, salad or vegetables. You can also ask for no extra cheese, butter or oil, and to put sauces in a dish on the side.
  5. Portion control
    A small portion of saladIt can be easy to eat more than you intended when eating out. If you don’t want to feel too stuffed, consider a starter (perhaps with a side order of vegetables), instead of a main course, or ask for a smaller portion.
  6. Keep it lean. Choose dishes which are based on lean proteins like chicken or turkey (where you can remove the skin) or lean red meats like fillet of pork or beef. Avoid fattier cuts of meat like belly pork or rump steak and remove any visible fat like the fat around the edge of a chop. Watch out for battered and deep fried dishes – even if the contents are lean (like chicken, fish, tofu or vegetables) the coating means they will come with lots of extra fat and calories.
  7. A bit on the side
    Having a coffee or cup of tea while others have a pudding is a good way to round off a meal
    Having a good helping of vegetables with your meal will add vitamins, minerals and fibre and help you towards your five a day, but beware vegetables that come with added butter, cheese sauce or salt. Ask the server for more information and see if there are any healthier alternatives.
  8. Be drink aware
    Keeping alcoholic drinks within the guidelines is important, particularly if you are going to be socialising more than usual. Try not to exceed the recommended 2–3 units a day for women and 3–4 for men. Don’t forget the calories that drinks, both alcoholic and non-alcoholic, can add. If you can, choose sugar-free drinks or water, and alternate these with any alcoholic drinks you are having.
  9. Entertain at home
    A dinner partyWe all enjoy eating out sometimes, but have you considered inviting family or friends round for a meal? That way you can control what’s on the menu, and it’s often cheaper, too. Ask your guests to bring a dish if you don’t want to be overwhelmed by cooking, although don’t forget to let them know if you want them to bring a healthier option.
  10. Fancy a nibble?
    Nibbles are always a very tempting option. It’s fine to indulge in a shortbread biscuit, or a chocolate sweet, but sticking to a regular pattern of meals and snacks will help to make sure you aren’t hungry between meals and help maintain your willpower.
Lancashire News, Lancs Health & Care

A woman is celebrating after losing half their body weight in September this year and winning a golden slimming award.

Mary Barnes, from Colne had lost a life-changing 13st 11.5lb to win Slimming World’s ‘Club 50’ Award – which has been special-created this year to celebrate the company’s 50th birthday – and is awarded to those members who have lost an incredible 50% of their starting weight.

Mary, who’s had gone from 27st 9.5lb to 13st 11.5lb, says: “I’ve been overweight for longer than I care to admit . I’m so proud and happy to win this award, especially in such a monumental year for Slimming World. It just gets better as we come closer to the end of this special year 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. For me though it’s the change on the inside that’s been the greatest – I’m happier, healthier and much more confident now.”

The 58-year-old joined the Monday group, which is run by Gwen Mortimer, on 2nd July 2018. Mary says: “My weight impacted on so many aspects of my life, from struggling to catch my breath, high blood pressure, finding clothes to fit let alone that I liked, to not being able to do simple everyday tasks without feeling tired and exhausted. Before I lost weight, I hated having my photo taken and whenever I saw pictures of myself, I didn’t feel like my smile was real – yet now I’m beaming!”

After retiring at Christmas in 2017 and being ill throughout Christmas and into the New Year, in fact most of January, with flu, pneumonia and being hospitalised with whooping cough, suffering with cracked ribs Mary was advised to seek help with her weight. Her lungs constantly filling up struggling to catch her breath and high blood pressure meant that she had to finally accept that she was obese but didn’t really know how much she did actually weight. Mary took a further six months to decided to join her local Slimming World group at St Johns Methodist Church, Colne. She says: “Walking through those doors was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done, I was embarrassed about my size and scared that I might be the biggest person there I had an image of what a slimming club was like judgmental, and full of thin people. I needn’t have worried though, everyone there was so friendly especially my Consultant Gwen, I went along with my daughter Carrie who wanted to join and took my husband Roy as well for moral support, I was so relieved when I found out that my weight was confidential between me and her – I’d had visions of having to tell everyone how much I weighed!

“Since then I’ve made so many friends at the group and I honestly don’t think I could have done it without their support each week. They helped me with recipes and tips and if I was ever struggling, they were always there to build me up and remind me why I’d wanted to lose weight in the first place and how far I’d come since first stepping through the doors. And it was so rewarding to support other members who needed a boost too.”

Mary followed the club’s Food Optimising eating plan and swapped junk food and the love of cake and not wasting anything for fantastic healthy meals finding a love of cooking and preparing meals from scratch fish, chicken, salads vegetables fruit all good things that have made such a massive difference to the way she and her family eat. She says: “People think slimming means going hungry, eating nothing but salad or obsessively counting every calorie you eat, but it’s not like that at all at Slimming World. I love food and it’s never once felt like I was on ‘a diet’ – in fact, people are always surprised at how much food I have on my plate and can’t believe I’m losing weight eating so much without ever feeling hungry.

“I still enjoy all my favourite meals like full English breakfasts and roast dinners, but I’ve learned how to make small changes like using lean meat or cooking with low calorie spray instead of oil or butter. It fits in so well with the rest of my family and we can all eat the same meals. I know that I haven’t ‘gone on a diet’, this is a change that I’ve made for life and I have the tools I need to stay like this forever. My smile is definitely real now!”

Today Mary’s lost a total of 15st and went from size 36 dress to a size 16 dress. She’s also more active nowadays and regularly walks between 7 and 14 miles at least 3 or 4 times a week and loves helping out on her youngest daughters farm herding the cattle and being involved with family life.

Gwen Mortimer, who runs the St Johns Colne Slimming World group, says: “The changes we’ve seen in Mary are incredible. I hope her success will inspire other people who’d like to lose weight by forming new lifestyle habits and as a result, become happier and healthier to come and join us. There’s a warm welcome waiting at Slimming World and, just think, if you start today you could soon feel like a completely new person, just like Mary her confidence and zest for life is so inspiring and motivating.”

The Colne group meets every Monday at 5:00pm or 7:00pm, Tuesday at 9:30am and Saturday at 8:30am or 10:30am at St Johns Methodist Church Colne. To join call Gwen Mortimer on 07783414157 or pop along.

– Ends –

For further information please contact Gwen Mortimer on 07783414157 or gwenking49@icloud.com