SIZE, or lack of it, is everything to a successful North-East slimming class.

Consultant Dawn Ferguson has seen her Slimming World group rapidly decrease in size during the past year, despite class numbers expanding by the week.

Such has been the weight loss that Ms Ferguson's group, which meets at Tanfield Lea Workingmen's Club, near Stanley, County Durham, has been named top in terms of pounds shed in the Durham and Cleveland area.

It also earned her the leading position in the district "superleague" for consultants over the past six months.

She accompanied several class members to the Asda store, in Stanley, to judge for themselves just how much they have lost in recent months. The class total is 5,200lbs, the equivalent of 1,040 5lb bags of potatoes, or 371 stones.

Word has spread of the class's success and numbers have now expanded to more than 100 per week.

Ms Ferguson, a successful slimmer-turned consultant, put the success down to her mantra of avoiding "faddy" dieting.

"It's just a case of good healthy eating, with only small changes needed to existing diets," she said. "Our members love the plans, as, even at this time of year, they don't have to deny themselves anything to lose weight."

She said her biggest thrill was when her slimmers "step up" to become consultants.

The latest two making the move are Donna Howe, who runs a class at Pelton Primary School, near Chester-le-Street, on Tuesdays, at 7pm, and Maxine Lowrie, who oversees a group meeting on Mondays, at the Central Methodist Church, in Annfield Plain, near Stanley.

She will also start a Wednesday class, at St Mary Queen of Martyrs Church Hall, in Esh Winning, near Durham, on January 3, at 7pm.

Ms Ferguson's Tanfield Lea classes are on Wednesdays, at 5.30pm or 7pm, and at Delves Lane Village Hall, in Consett, on Tuesdays, at 5pm.

She also has a group meeting at St Patrick's Church, in Victoria Road, Consett, on Thursdays, from next week, at 9.30am. For details, call 01207-507245.