THE only way was Slimming World for reality star Mark Wright when he met Gillian Hetherton at the weight-loss organisation's annual awards ceremony to celebrate its most successful slimmers.

Gillian, who is the district manager for Slimming World in the Borders, was thrilled to get the chance to pose for a photo with Mark at the event in Birmingham.

Mark, who shot to fame on The Only Way is Essex before taking to the jungle as a contestant in I'm a Celebrity�Get Me Out of Here, now fronts ITV2 show Take Me Out The Gossip. He joined Slimming World's founder Margaret Miles-Bramwell OBE to host the ceremony.

Mark said: "I was absolutely blown away by the people who joined us on stage. I couldn't believe how much weight they'd lost and what a difference it had made to their lives - they were like completely different people.

"In fact, throughout the day I met so many fantastic people, not only the slimmers collecting awards but also amazing people like Gillian who run and manage the Slimming World groups and help them achieve so much."

"I really feel the people of Scottish Borders are very lucky to have such a great support network on their doorstep."

Gillian says meeting Mark was the perfect ending to a great year for Slimming World.

The club now helps more than a million people every year to lose weight and lead healthier, happier lives at one of its 9,500 weekly sessions.

"But there's still a lot of work to be done," adds Gillian. "With one of the highest levels of obesity in Europe right here in the UK, we want to help even more people to slim down and improve their health starting this January.

"At this time of year lots of people will be making New Year's resolutions and pledging to lose weight, and we'd love anyone who wants to make a change to come along and join us.

"Even if they've struggled to stick to resolutions in the past, there's no need to be put off. Slimming World's Food Optimising plan isn't a diet, it's an easy, healthy way of eating that the whole family can enjoy.

"By making small easy changes to the way you shop, cook and eat, members see a big difference on the scales.

"Better yet, because our members can enjoy unlimited amounts of hundreds of everyday foods from fruit and veg to pasta and rice, lean meat to eggs and fat free dairy, they never have to go hungry.

"When you combine all this with the support members need to overcome the motivational challenges they face, and the encouragement to become more active, that's a powerful weight loss package that's hard to beat - all year round."

To get your New Year off to a super slimming start and find your nearest Slimming World group call 0844 897 8000 or visit www.slimmingworld.com