FOR many people, the New Year brings an opportunity to trim their waistlines — joining them in this year will be Fudge the cat.

The former stray tortoiseshell was taken in by former Bolton FM presenter Matthew Davidge and his partner Debbie, who found her hanging around at The Jolly Crofters pub in Chorley Old Road.

After taking Fudge to the vets, the Johnson Fold couple were told that she could be pregnant with up to four kittens, and should be fed more to provide for them, only to later find out that Fudge was not pregnant at all.

This left the cat weighing in at five and a half kilogrammes and unable to lose weight.

Mr Davidge said: "Part of the problem is she has become a right diva, it is a rags to riches story because she went from being a stray to strutting round like she owns the place and eating everything in sight."

He decided to enter Fudge, who is thought to be between one and two years old, on to ITV show 'Fat Pets Club' where the couple were given a number of different exercise toys in a bid to help Fudge lose weight over the coming year.