A WEIGHT loss consultant with groups in Beaminster and Bridport had an extra special start to the New Year when she rubbed shoulders with celebrity and pop artist Peter Andre.

Becs King, who runs a Slimming World group at Beaminster Public Hall every Wednesday and St Mary's Church Hall in Bridport every Tuesday, was thrilled to get up close and personal to Peter when he co-hosted the Slimming World Awards with the organisation’s chair and founder Margaret Miles-Bramwell OBE.

She said meeting the Mysterious Girl and Insania singer was a wonderful way to round off what’s been a great 12 months for the Beaminster Slimming World group, as well as the perfect way to kick start another successful year.

Becs added: “I’m so proud of all of the members of the Beaminster group; they’ve lost fantastic amounts of weight throughout 2014, with many of them reaching their target weights and improving their health substantially.

“It’s so rewarding to see people achieve things that they didn’t think possible before losing weight, whether that’s wearing smaller-sized clothes, taking up new hobbies, reducing medication or being able to do more with their family and friends.

“Meeting Peter was a real treat because he was such a nice guy, and it was a great way to celebrate all of that. “Now I feel inspired and can’t wait to help my members hold on to all of the fabulous changes they’ve made, and to support even more people to become happier and healthier in 2015.”

Peter, who famously featured on the ITV show I’m a Celebrity in 2004 and now presents Peter Andre’s 60 Minute Makeover, said he was delighted to meet Becs at the event, which was held at Birmingham’s International Convention Centre.

He added: “Being in the public eye there’s a lot of scrutiny and if you put on even a pound or two the magazines and newspapers are extremely quick to point it out, so I’ve always tried to take care of myself and watch my weight.

“At the awards I met lots of people who’ve lost incredible amounts of weight and it has completely transformed their lives – and their families’ lives too.

“And every single one of them told me that they couldn’t have made those changes without the support of their Slimming World group and their consultant, so people like Becs are clearly very important.”

Becs hopes even more people from Beaminster and Bridport will join Slimming World and benefit from making healthy lifestyle changes this New Year.

For more information or to join either of the two weight loss groups run by Becs, call 01308 861486.