FOUR women's shrinking waistlines are piling on the pounds for charity.

Shelley Henderson, Lauren Wood, Kelly Appelby and her mother Noreen have signed up to an inch loss challenge which will help raise £5,000 for the Genesis Research Trust, the charity founded by Professor Robert Winston to fund research into pregnancy-related illnesses.

Businesswoman Susan Routledge organised the six-week slimming and fitness challenge through the Finishing Touch Health and Beauty clinic she runs in Medomsley Road, Consett.

The four will line up for a ‘Big Reveal’ at Finishing Touch’s 25th anniversary party featuring beauty demonstrations and fashion shows at the Derwent Manor Hotel in Allensford on September 8.

Sus said: "All the signs are encouraging and two members of the team have already shed an amazing 24cms from their waistlines.

"It all started when I decided to do something special to celebrate 25 years in business and my 50th birthday.

"I enrolled to take part in a fund raising cycling marathon across Sri Lanka that was being organised by the trust in the autumn and then launched the local charity effort. It’s been a real team affair and everyone has done brilliantly so far.

"There has been a lot of back-up support for what we are doing and we are confident we can raise in the region of £5,000 and maybe more.

"The charity is very close to my heart after seeing many clients over the years go through the heartache of trying for a family and losing babies and then experiencing the same myself.

"The whole fundraising idea has really captured everyone’s imagination. No one wants it to end so we now have plans to structure this into a set programme for the future".