WHEN her mum, dad and brother all died through fat related-illnesses Jacqueline Singleton knew she had to conquer her weight.

Weighing 18 stones and wearing size 30 clothes, Jacqueline used to eat chocolate biscuits before breakfast and wasn't even able to let her three grandchildren sit on her knee.

Seeing a photograph of herself at a wedding a few years ago added to her vow to fight the flab.

Now she has lost eight stones in 18 months and boasts a trim size 14, ten stone figure.

Jacqueline, 46, a former sewing machinist, of Rowan Avenue, Oswaldtwistle, grew up on a traditional diet of pies and puddings and had chips with everything.

Jacqueline, said: "I was overweight as a child. In those days, everyone ate meat-and-potato pie or stews and filled-up with bread and butter. People weren't aware of healthy eating. I was big when I left Rhyddings High School and weighed 14 stone when I was aged 16."

Jacqueline's mum and dad, Walter and Sheila Blakeman, died in their 50s, and her brother Shaun died aged just 37. They all suffered ill health through their weight. She has two remaining sisters and a brother who lives in Oswaldtwistle.

Recalling her diet, which she embarked on while working at the Wills fabric firm, Oswaldtwistle, she said: "I used to eat sweets all day for 25 years. At night, I'd have four bags of crisps, two chocolate bars and sweets."

Jacqueline joined a weekly Weight Watchers group at Accrington's Cannon Street Baptist Church in late 2002 and began shedding the pounds. Now, she can play with her grandchildren and sits them on her knee.

She says Accrington Weight Watchers had supported her greatly, as has husband Stephen, and says the weight loss has been so huge that friends have failed to recognise her. She added: "I walk down the street and people blank me! But losing weight has made a tremendous difference to my life. I swim, go to the gym and play with my grandchildren or cuddle them on my knee, which I couldn't before. Even my doctor says I'm healthier than him."

Accrington Weight Watchers leader Doreen Farren said: "Jacqueline has lost over 100lbs, which is a huge achievement and not common. It's about persevering. The reward is feeling fitter and looking great, as she does."