SUPER slimmer Maxine Hope is discovering a whole new world after shedding more than seven stones in just over a year.

The 32-year-old mother-of-three, from St Helen Auckland, near Bishop Auckland, came back from holiday in Spain to find she had been crowned Greatest Achiever of the Year by Darlington slimming organisation Slimfit.

The family break in Salou was special for Maxine, who felt able to wear a bikini for the first time in years after going down from size 26 to size 14.

Even better was the fun she had swimming and playing football with husband Jeff and children Bradley, nine, Jordan, six, and four-year-old Kaitlyn.

She said: "It was totally different. I had always been left out of the children's games, but they involved me for the first time and it was great."

Maxine still goes to classes at the Lightfoot Institute, in Bishop Auckland, where her eating plan was devised by Slimfit partners Mandy Drake, Lynne Simmons, Julie Woodcock and June Macfarlane, who set up their own business in 1988 because they were disillusioned with other diets.

Mandy said: "We think Maxine is absolutely fantastic. She is the greatest achiever of them all and an inspiration to all other members of the class."

Contact Slimfit on (01325) 260060 for details.