A hospital cook who shed almost half her weight after being inspired by her brother's courageous fight against cancer has been named slimmer of the year.

Christine Tonge, 41, had yo-yo dieted since being a teenager and was a size 32, weighing over 21 stone, when her older brother, Alan Marley, was diagnosed with oral cancer two years ago.

After witnessing the brave way he coped with the disease, Christine vowed to try once more to regain her figure.

Tragically, cancer claimed her brother earlier this month, and in a poignant epitaph to his bravery, Christine has won two prestigious national slimming titles after losing more than nine stones in 20 months.

"There were only two years between my brother and I and we were always close," said Christine, from Bishop Auckland, County Durham.

"It went through my mind that he had no control over his illness, whereas I did. He was my inspiration and it's heartbreaking that he's no longer here. I know he would have been so proud of me."

Bachelor Alan, a 43-year-old line supervisor, died on November 1 - and days later Christine learned she had been named Slimmer of the Year by Changes, the nationwide chain formerly known as Slimfit.

She went on to scoop their Greatest Achiever Award, for losing the most weight of the 3,200 people who attended classes nationwide this year.

Christine, who works in the Chimneys Restaurant, at Bishop Auckland General Hospital, joined Darlington-based Changes in March last year, and lost 8lb in her first week.

She started having toast for breakfast, a ham salad sandwich and yoghurt for lunch and chicken and vegetables for her evening meal.

Earlier this year, she began going to the gym with her 77-year-old mother, Nancy, and continues to exercise in the gym or swim at least three times a week.