SLIMMING club leaders from around the region came face to face with a reality television star at their organisation’s annual awards ceremony.

Slimming World leaders Fiona Jones, Lauren Anderson and Katie Trever (CORR) met The Only Way is Essex star Mark Wright at the recent event in Birmingham.

Mr Wright joined the group’s founder Margaret Miles-Bramwell to host the ceremony, honouring some of its most successful slimmers.

Ms Jones, who runs meetings in Darlington and Stockton, said: “With one of the highest levels of obesity in Europe right here in the UK, we want to help even more people to slim down and improve their health starting this January.

“At this time of year lots of people will be making New Year’s resolutions and pledging to lose weight, and we’d love anyone who wants to make a change to come along and join us.”

Ms Anderson runs a Slimming World group in Peterlee, while Ms Trever works across Teesside and North Yorkshire.