IT was when she nearly sunk a two-man boat on holiday that Sue Phillips decided she needed to do something about her weight.

And she went further than most - having to learn to drive just to get to her slimming club.

She said: "I can laugh about it now but it was pretty scary at the time."

Sue, 52, from Charmouth, was on holiday in the Lake District last year and not being able to walk far without getting out of breath, her knees hurting and the embarrassment of hiring a two man boat and struggling to get in and out.

Sue said: " I thought it was going to sink. I can swim but my partner can't. I can laugh about it now but it was pretty scary at the time.

"Being overweight makes you feel uncomfortable, tired, depressed, irritable and even at times ugly. That's exactly how I felt."

Sue had never been the sort to struggle with her weight but it was a change in lifestyle that saw the pounds creep on u til she was nearly tipping the scales at 17stone.

Bridport and Lyme Regis News:

BEFORE: Sue, front left, before her weight loss

She said: "I lived in Southampton and was a store manager and always on the go."

But a move to Charmouth to lived with her widowed mum - and a job in the kitchens of a cafe known for its homemade cakes took its toll.

She lost a few pounds on her own but a after receiving a leaflet through her door advertising Slimming World, Sue joined the Charmouth group in October.

She said: "It took a lot of soul searching but I went along on opening night. I remember feeling rather sceptical about it."

But it didn;t take long to convince her that having the support of the group was vital.

But when the group moved to Bridport she was left with a huge challenge.

Sue said: "I thought that was it for me, as I lived in the village and couldn't drive".

This was when Sue really felt the support from her group, while she was learning to drive the members took it in turns to pick her up and take her along to the weekly meetings.

Now Sue can point to three milestones - she's passed her driving test, lost 3stone 11lb and has trained to become a slimming consultant herself.

She's nearly at her target weight - despite the daily temptations at the cafe - though she's planning to lower her target another half stone.

Sue said: "I love group and seeing everyone achieve their own goals, Oh and the food I still can't believe how much food you can enjoy and still lose weight."

Her consultant Becs King was so impressed with Sue's drive to succeed and help others to as well she encouraged Sue to attend a local consultant opportunity event.

Becs said: "Sue was always first to arrive at group and often last to leave, she is so passionate about group and is such a support to the other members. I knew she'd make a fantastic consultant."

Sue is re-launching the Bridport Flood Lane group which is held in the community centre on Wednesday October 5.

For more information about the group please call Sue on 07542 649812.