A STROUD slimmer who lost almost six stone after being inspired by Hollywood actress Gwyneth Paltrow is now feeling absolutely flab-u-less.

Beverley Cornock of Ryeford was nominated by her local branch of Slimming World in Ebley for a national award.

"I've been on diets all my life," she said.

"Two years and three months ago I felt I was destined to always be large. "I was desperately unhappy with my image.

"My exterior appearance mirrored the part of Rosemary, (played by Gwyneth Paltrow) from the film Shallow Hal who was an extremely fat person but inside the slim Rosemary wanted to step out."

Beverley signed up for the Slimming World sessions and over the past two years has lost five stone, ten pounds.

"My life has been totally transformed," she said. "I am happier, healthier and treated with respect.

"My confidence has soared and I feel that I am living my life rather than just existing. "I have more energy to spend with my family and now I am not ashamed to stand at the school gates.

"Since losing weight I have a lot more confidence and have had the courage to start a course at Stroud College.

"I feel my appearance also helped me to secure a job at St Rose's School which I love. "When I joined the classes it really felt like somebody had let me into a secret, I really could lose weight and conquer my weight problem. "It's not just going to the lettuce leaf route."

Even though Beverley has now reached her target weight she continues to attend her class.

"The support and encouragement I received from the class has motivated me to be more confident and I have made so many new friends," she said. Beverley's success story was recently featured in a national newspaper.

"A lot of my friends and family members said they had seen me in the press and it was really nice to be chosen from all the slimmers around the country who had reached their target weight."