HAVING lost 4st 10lb and now being well on her way to the 5st mark, the only thing that's big about Launceston's Val Budgen Cawsey is her beaming smile.

A retired professional caterer, cook and housekeeper to HRH The Princess Royal, and well known public speaker for the WI — as well as many other groups and organisations around Cornwall and Devon — Val , originally from The Weald of Kent, lost weight with her local Slimming World group in Launceston.

She lost the staggering amount of weight in eight months, and her transformation hasn't gone unnoticed as, she has just been named the Launceston group's 'Woman of the Year 2011'.

Around one in four women in the UK and Ireland are already severely overweight and at risk of suffering a range of health problems including diabetes, heart disease and cancer. Slimming World's Woman of the Year competition recognises the achievements of women in making long-term healthy lifestyle changes for themselves and their families.

Val joined Slimming World on January 6 this year after becoming increasingly unhappy with her weight.

For a round-up of the area news and sport, please see this week's edition of the 'Post'.