A MUM from Westhoughton has found a new lease of life since losing six stone in weight.

Jean Best, of Molyneux Avenue, weighed almost 22 stone 12 months ago when she decided she had to lose weight or end up in a wheelchair.

The 43-year-old had started to suffer from pains in her knee and was finding it difficult to walk.

Jean's last holiday with her teenage son, Matthew, had proved upsetting as she spent the whole time hiding beneath a parasol and was determined to lose weight so she could swim with him.

She joined Slimming World in St Helens Road, Bolton, and was recently voted the class's Woman of the Year after reaching her halfway weight target of 16 stone.

Jean, who works as an assistant manager in an office providing support for carers of special needs people, has also enjoyed the holiday of a lifetime after going to Ibiza with Matthew, aged 14.

She said: "The holiday was amazing. I went swimming with Matthew for the first time and even went on a slide in a water park.

"The difference to the last holiday was unbelievable. I feel much better and have more faith in myself."

Jean, who is a loyal Wanderers fan, hopes to reach her target weight of 11 and a half stone in the next 12 months and is happy her clothes no longer fit her.

She added: "Sometimes I look in the mirror and feel shocked when I see my face. I've had my clothes taken in so many times now that I'm having to throw a lot of them away.

"I do aqua aerobics twice a week which I would never have dreamt of doing before when I could barely walk. My son is very proud of me and cannot wait to see how much weight I have lost every week.

"The other members of the club have also been a great support and I couldn't have lost the weight without their help."