A WEIGHT-LOSS expert has won national acclaim for his work.

Andrew Walsh, who runs the Longfield Academy Slimming World group, in Darlington, has been given a bronze award for helping dozens of people to lose weight.

The Slimming World award is given to consultants who have 50 members in their group who attend classes every week.

Mr Walsh became a consultant in January after losing more than two stone through the scheme and is currently helping 90 people follow in his footsteps and lose weight.

“I am delighted to have received the bronze award on behalf of the Longfield Academy group,” he said.

“I feel passionately about helping people to transform their lives by losing weight in the same way that I did when I lost two-and-a-half stone with Slimming World in September.

“Losing weight made me feel happier and healthier and gave me so much more confidence.”

Over the last year, Mr Walsh’s group has lost more than 75 stone.

“The Longfield Academy group has really put healthy weight loss on the map in Darlington," he added.

“Obesity is at record levels everywhere and with 29.3 per cent of adults in Darlington being affected, lots of people here are suffering a range of weight-related health problems from diabetes to heart problems and feelings of low self-worth that impact on their working and personal lives every day.

“I became a consultant because I wanted to share that feeling and help other people to achieve the same success I had myself.

“Seeing the members in my group – mums, dads, grandmas and young people too – reach their target weight is so rewarding and receiving this award is just the icing on the cake."