NESS Orr lost almost half her body weight in the last two-and-a-half years.

It took a comment from her doctor to prompt Mrs Orr from Winton to start shedding some of her 20 stones.

Mrs Orr, 37, said: "I was nearly 40 and I did not want to be fat and 40 I wanted to be fabulous and 40."

She joined a slimming group in Northbourne and has now reached her goal weight of 11 stones.

Mrs Orr, who works as a sales floor manager for Hobbycraft, has gone from a hefty size 26 to a svelte 10-12.

She said: "Clothes shopping has now become my favourite activity and I have much more confidence. I am much more active now.

"My family are absolutely amazed."

Husband Chris, who works for a computer firm, joined her diet and lost two stones himself.

Mrs Orr recently won Dorset's Slimming World woman of the year.