WAISTLINES have been disappearing quickly in Darlington thanks to the success of a community-based weight management group.

The Weight No More programme, devised by South Durham and Darlington Nutrition and Dietetics Service, has so far helped more than 40 people fight the flab since it began 18 months ago.

Run by Children's Centre early years practitioners Alison Welsh and Louvain Holden, the 12-week course is designed to cover all areas of healthy eating, nutrition and exercise, linking in to aerobics and boxercise classes.

Course leader Mrs Welsh said: "At the moment we have about ten women on the course, which runs alternately at Mount Pleasant and Skerne Park Children's Centres, but to date we have had no men attending.

"We don't like people to lose too much too quickly - being healthy is the most important aspect."

One success story is Louise Cunningham, who underwent the course after giving birth to her son Luke, and lost a stone in the first 12 weeks.

Anyone registered with a Children's Centre interested in the programme can contact the Mount Pleasant Children's Centre office on (01325) 488176. The next course starts in September.

Anyone with a child aged under four who lives in the Cockerton, Branksome, Bank Top or Skerne Park areas who would like to register with the Children's Centre can contact Mount Pleasant on (01325) 488176 or Skerne Park on (01325) 248020.