It began as a way to lose weight but a group of women have now made a career as slimming consultants. Women's Editor Christen Pears reports.

ONE was a police officer, one a secretary, one a hairdresser. Now they're all slimming consultants.

Debbie McKay is bubbly, confident and slim but, like a lot of women, she has a long history of weight problems. Desperate to lose weight, she tried various diets, slimming clubs and exercise regimes but nothing seemed to work.

Six years ago, and almost at the end of her tether, she joined Slimming World and was so successful, she was asked to be a consultant. She now manages the club's Cleveland and Durham District.

"I have always worked as a secretary and wasn't looking for a change of direction. Losing weight made my self-esteem rocket, and I realised I wanted to be part of helping other people realise they could achieve the same for themselves."

Debbie is supported in her role by her team managers, Jayne Pederson, Jacqui Goodwin, Denise Collinson, Tracey Cole and Jillian Green. Each manager has a completely different working background, and between them they have lost 27-and-a-half stones. They've also managed to get through to the final three in the District of the Year competition.

Jacqui has four young children and has had various jobs over the years, including bar work, and now thrives on running a successful class with more than 130 people attending every Monday night. She also manages the East Cleveland team of consultants.

Denise moved to the North-East when her husband moved jobs. Her position as Team Manager for Darlington and South Durham involves working from home and is a world apart from her previous job as a WPC. Tracey, a mother of three, who looks after the East Durham and Hartlepool team says: "I moved from the Post Office, where I was a team leader, to Slimming World and it's the best decision I have ever made. The thing I enjoy is the flexibility of the job - not having to work fixed shifts, or do the same thing day in, day out is so refreshing."

Jayne, who manages the Middlesbrough team, is a former hairdresser and nail technician. She has just received an award for attracting 100 members attending her class on a weekly basis.

"Just knowing that those 100 people are making a difference to their lives gives me huge job satisfaction," she says. "There is a sense of family at Slimming World classes - united by a common goal to win the war over excess weight."

The newest member of the Cleveland and Durham Team is Jillian Green, who has recently joined the company, having previously worked for an insurance company. Her first meeting with the rest of her team was on the day they heard they had been nominated for the company's District of the Year Award.

"It was a very emotional moment for the team" says Debbie. "Every single one of the consultants in the North-East share one unique quality - they all genuinely care about the health and happiness of others, a quality which cannot be trained. To be recognised in such a way for doing a job we all love is just incredible."

* Slimming World is looking for team managers and consultants throughout the Cleveland and Durham area. If you would like to know more, contact Debbie on 01642 466496 or Slimming World's Head Office on 01773 523817.