A TEAM of slimmers from Pendle are top of the class — and are now challenging others to fight the flab.

Staff at Whitefield Infant School have won a new dieting challenge by shedding almost four stone in six weeks.

Bob Southward, Tanveer Kauser, Gill Worswick, Alison Wilkinson and Philippa Snowden achieved the feat as part of the Pendle Weight Loss Challenge.

They lost the combined weight of 3st 13lbs, bagging a week’s worth of free leisure facilities, sponsored by Pendle Leisure Trust, as their prize.

The challenge is the brainchild of Dr Stuart Berry of Reedyford GP Practice.

He said: “It’s a fantastic achievement.

“The Whitefield Infants team have worked well together, motivating each other to eat more healthily and exercise more.”

The 12-week programme employs ‘keep it simple’ principles.

Teams of five track their weight and call into the practice every third week to be weighed by nurses and receive support and information.

Every third week the team with the greatest collective weight loss wins a prize.

Bob Southward, home school link officer at the school, said: “We get together every Friday and make a pledge towards losing weight for the next week ahead and that really helps keep us focused.”

‘SMART’ targets (specific, measurable, achievable, realistic, timed) help members lose weight.

Mrs Kauser said: “It’s amazing how just making little changes really can make a big difference, such as reducing the portions you eat or taking small amounts of exercise.”

The team will now stay in touch to keep each other motivated throughout the summer.