THREE women who have helped other shed the pounds got the opportunity to cuddle up to a pop star as a thank you for their hard work and dedication.

Slimming World consultants Jillian McKay and Sharon Morgan and Slimming World manager Carole Pritchard, all from around the Basingstoke area, got the chance to get up close to Peter Andre when he presented the annual Slimming World Awards.

The Mysterious Girl singer co-hosted the event with the organisation’s founder and chair Margaret MilesBramwell OBE.

Carole said: “It’s so rewarding to see people being able to do things that they didn’t think were possible before losing weight, whether that’s having more energy, feeling happier, wearing smaller clothes, taking up new hobbies, reducing medication or doing more with their family and friends.

“Every week I feel extremely lucky to play even a small part in people’s achievements and I felt very honoured to represent Basingstoke at the Slimming World Awards.”

“Now I’m heading into 2018 super motivated to support even more people in Basingstoke to be inspired to lose weight and lead healthier and happier lives.”

Peter said: “ I met so many incredible people who had lost amazing amounts of weight and transformed themselves – inside and out. While each of them was inspirational in their own special way, the one thing they all had in common was how much they felt they owed to their “Slimming World family” in helping them to do things they always dreamed of."