Sandra See slimmed down by eight stone and two pounds, earning her a place as one of just 10 women from across the UK and Ireland who made the final of Slimming World’s Woman of the Year 2014 competition where she met the Mysterious Girl singer.

Mrs See joined the Uxbridge Slimming World group - which meets every Tuesday at The Salvation Army in Cowley Road - in September 2013.

She has since gone from 19st 8lbs to 11st 6lbs and her transformation inspired members of her group to vote her as their representative in the annual competition.

“I’d tried losing weight before, I’ve done pretty much every diet under the sun, but I always found the plans that I followed too hard to stick to because they left me feeling hungry and deprived,” she said.

But the Uxbridge group was different. She said: “The changes I’ve made to the way I cook and eat have been small ones, like swapping white bread for wholemeal and using low calorie spray instead of oil or butter in my cooking, but they’ve made a big difference to my weight.

“I can still enjoy all my favourite meals.”

Sandra before and after her amazing weightloss

After being diagnosed with diabetes and being chucked off a ride at Blackpool Pleasure beach because of her weight, Mrs See decided to make a change.

She said: “Now I can jump with my five year old and I have took my children swimming last year for the first time ever. I power walk, trampoline, cycle, dance and hula hoop - I feel like I am living now, not just existing.”

Tracy Redgrave, who runs the Uxbridge group, said: “I am so proud of what Sandra has achieved - she hasn’t only changed how she looks, she’s a different person on the inside too.

“She’s blossomed into a happy, confident woman and it’s been a pleasure to share in her journey.”

The Uxbridge group meets every Tuesday at 7.30pm at The Salvation Army in Cowley Road, Uxbridge. Call Tracy on 07799 268800 for more information.