WHEN slimmer Heather Cleasby swapped her big bloomers for tiny thongs, she was delighted, until she realised the extra pounds were not the only things missing.

Heather, from Leeholme near Bishop Auckland, County Durham, had never dared hang her underwear on her washing line, until she lost five and a half stones in six months at her local Slimming World classes.

With her new-found confidence she bought some thongs and,, when it came to washing day, proudly pegged them out to dry.

However, later that day, she discovered the knickers had been nicked by a mystery thief.

She said: "Whoever it was must have been pretty determined, as they had an 8ft wall to climb to get at them.

"I never had this problem with my old pants. They wouldn't have been much good to anyone except maybe Santa himself."

Since then, her underwear has been stolen on three occasions and, although she has not caught anyone yet, she is determined to hang her washing out to dry on the line.

Heather, who slimmed from a size 22 to a size 12, was recently voted target member of the year by her class, after reaching her target weight of 10 stone 2lbs.

Heather, of Buckingham Terrace, said: "As part of my prize I was given a gorgeous pair of thongs that my slimming consultant Marion brought back especially from Lanzarote. I've promised her that these will be dried on the radiator only."