SUPER slimmers in Deeside have lost a whopping 500 stone combined.

Since January, Fairfield Slimming World in Connah's Quay has been on a mission to shed the pounds in Slimming World's golden year.

Altogether the members of the group are now 500 stone lighter than they were at the beginning of the year - and the challenge is to reach 10,000lbs weight loss by Christmas.

The members, who attend the group every week, follow Slimming World’s Food Optimising eating plan created by the organisation’s team of expert nutritionists.

It encourages them to fill up on satisfying foods such as pasta, rice, potatoes, lean meat and fish, pulses and fruit and veg.

Debbie Chesters has lost six-and-a-half stone to drop from 22 to size 14.

She says: "Filling up on lots of satisfying foods means you’re never hungry so I’ve never felt as though I was on a diet. Before I joined Slimming World I thought losing weight meant going to the gym and counting calories. But now I know it’s about making healthier choices about food and becoming a bit more active.

"Reaching this milestone as a group just proves the huge change that we’ve all made to our lives, some people who’ve lost big amounts of weight have probably even saved their lives. It’s brilliant to celebrate together as well because that’s how we’ve been losing weight – together. Every week we support and encourage each other and share tips and recipes, and on top of that we have a lot of fun.

"The support and inspiration we get from our consultant Bonnie has also been integral to our success. Because she’s lost weight herself, she understands the ups and downs of slimming and can offer us help and advice based on her own experience, without her I don’t think we’d have achieved nearly as much."

Bonnie says: "I’m delighted that my members have lost weight so beautifully. It has made a big difference to their lives and to their whole families’ lives, and all of them are happier and healthier now.

"Slimming has never been more important. There are two thirds overweight and obese people in Flintshire and I just want to help even more people to make real changes for life – there’s no better job satisfaction than that!"