A self-confessed chip addict has set up her own slimming group after losing pounds and gaining confidence.

Mum-of-one Wendy Chandler, 45, who lives on the Marks Hall estate in Coggeshall, started attending the village’s Slimming World group in April, wearing dress sizes 14 to 16.

The teaching assistant was feeling tired and miserable, had tried popular diets and was fed up of not eating breakfast and then munching on chocolate and biscuits in the evening.

By her own admission, she snacked on fatty foods - especially her favourite chips - to comfort herself after a tough day but only ended up feeling worse.

She said: “My attitude to food was terrible.

"I was trapped in a cycle of eating as little as possible during the day, only to spend my evenings comforting myself with chocolate, biscuits and wine.

“I would then wake up the next day feeling really low and cross with myself for not sticking to my diet.

“Most of my clothes were too small and those that did still fit were uncomfortable."