A 40-year-old slimmer from Polperro got along swimmingly with Olympian Mark Foster when she met him at the semi-finals of a competition to find the UK and Ireland’s top female slimmers.

Claire Smith was one of 54 women to win a place at the semi-finals of Slimming World’s Woman of the Year 2016 competition after losing an impressive 9st 5.5lbs. It was there that she was congratulated by Mark, who is Britain’s most-decorated male swimmer and six-time world champion.

Claire, who slimmed from 20st 11.5lbs to 11st 6lbs, made it to the semi-finals after members at her East Looe group voted for her to be their representative for the Woman of the Year competition.

She then went on to win her regional heat.

She said: ’I’d tried and failed to lose weight so many times that I honestly thought that I was destined to be overweight for ever.

’It’s even encouraged me to think about how active I am too, so I’ve taken up zumba. I’m actually an instructor now! I also enjoy swimming and going to the gym. I’ve recently joined my local running club too.’

Louise Collings, who runs the East Looe group, said: ’Claire is such an inspiration to everyone in our group. While she has lost weight she’s grown in so many other ways – her confidence, her happiness and her zest for life. It’s been a pleasure to share in her journey I couldn’t be more proud of her and I know the East Looe group all feel the same way. She’s blossomed into a beautiful woman both inside and out.

’If she’s inspired anyone else in Polperro or Looe who’d like to lose weight, they’re more than welcome to join our group at St Martin’s Church Hall or call me on 07914 320697.’