An Ammanford weight-loss group has taken slimming down to the next level.

Coach Paula Griffiths received her Diamond Coach Award with Weight Watchers on February 21 for her outstanding service within the community.

The award celebrates a coach’s exceptional support to their members during their journey and is only given to a select group of Weight Watchers experts across the country.

Paula, who has worked for Weight Watchers for 11 years, said: “I am absolutely thrilled to receive this prestigious award for the fourth time.

“I absolutely love my new healthier, happier life and being a part of each individual’s weight loss journey.”

Paula has lost 8 stone 2 lbs herself to get to her goal weight. Her start weight was 18 stone 6lbs.

Tracy Jones, a member at Paula’s meeting who has lost 56 lbs, said: “Paula’s classes are fab and inspiring and she was always there to help me reach my goal.”

Paula runs six meetings in total; two at Ammanford Pensioners Hall, one at Bro Myrddin Bowls Club and three at Llandybie Public Memorial Hall.

Andy Ratcliffe, 48, of Llandybie has lost over eight stone after attending one of Paula’s classes.

He used to weigh over 20 stone and lost three stone following a sponsored slim back in 2014 for EACH - East Anglian Children’s Hospice.

Andy lived in Norwich at the time and raised approximately £300 for the charity.

Last year personal circumstances caused Andy to gain weight again.

He said: “I went through a difficult time with my previous job, where my previous company put increasing pressure on me, but didn’t give me fair support.

“I ended up becoming unemployed with nowhere to live, until my brother helped out.

I was comfort eating and I went from 13st 5lb to 16st 3lb by April 2017.

“Then my sister-in-law encouraged me to sign up to Weight Watchers.”

He recently weighed in at 11 stone 13 lbs, a weight loss of eight stone.

Andy has become a celebrity on “Connect,” an exclusive Weight Watchers social community for all members to use.

He has 2180 followers and posts under the tagline “Hot and happy pink”.