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 Alan earlier this month but in a poignant epitaph the sister his bravery inspired has won two prestigious national slimming titles after losing over nine stones in just 20 months.

""There were only two years between my brother and I and we were always close' said Christine, from Bishop Auckland, Co 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 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 just days later Christine learned she had been named Slimmer of the Year with Changes the nationwide chain formerly known as Slimfit.

She has also scooped their Greatest Achiever Award - for losing the most weight of the 3,200 people who attended classes nationwide in the past year.

Christine, who works in the Chimneys Restaurant at Bishop Auckland General Hospital, joined Darlington-based Changes in March 2001 and lost 81bs 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.

By Christmas last year she had lost fiat 61bs and began going to the gym with her 77-year-old mum Nancy.

Now she goes to the gym and swims at least three times a week.