A teacher is top of her class after shedding the pounds to reveal a more confident, slimmer person.

Amy Malone, of Malpas Drive, Northallerton, has managed to drop seven dress sizes.

The slender 26-year-old has had her success recognised by becoming Class Woman of the Year at her local Slimming World group and will go through to the North Yorkshire final for Woman of the Year.

Amy, a teacher at Laurence Jackson Secondary School, in Guisborough, joined the class in Northallerton town hall in August last year and has seen her weight drop steadily, going from a dress size 24 to a ten.

"I feel absolutely fantastic. I have so much more confidence and I'm happier in myself and my work," she said.

"When I was large it was difficult to buy clothes. I used to wear black all the time and the number of shops I could go to was limited to about two or three.

"Now I shop anywhere I like - and it's great."

Amy blamed her weight gain on her discovery of alcohol in her teens and eating the wrong kinds of food.

She decided to do something about it when she started her teacher training course.

"I didn't want to be a fat teacher that kids would snigger at and point.

"Looking back, one of the worst things about being fat was people staring at me," she said.

At about the same time Amy's partner, Stephen, proposed and she said she could not wait for the big day next year when all eyes will be on the slimline bride.