Mrs Foster, 44, has lost 6st, while her husband-of-seven years is four-and-a-half stones lighter.

The pair, who both work for South Tyneside Council, transformed their lives after Mrs Foster joined a Rosemary Conley Diet and Fitness class, and her husband decided to follow the plan.

Mrs Foster said: "People say we look like a different couple. My son's teacher said we're the 'disappearing parents', which made us laugh."

Although reluctant to give her weight, she says she has dropped from a dress size 24 to a 14, and her body mass index (BMI)) went from more than 39 down to 27.

And after taking blood pressure tablets for five years, she no longer needs them. Her shoe size has even dropped from an eight to a six-and-a-half.

She said: "I feel more confident now. Everybody is saying I look much younger. People stop me and say I look totally different.

"I feel much better. I've got a new lease of life. I do things I wouldn't have done before. I've never been in a size 14 since my early 20s."

Tracy joined the Rosemary Conley class at a school near her home in Fulwell, Sunderland, in January this year.

She has two sons, Luke, 16, and Dylan, five, and wasn't fit enough to run around with them.

The pounds crept on after she moved to an office-based job as a person-centred planning facilitator for people with learning disabilities.

By May, she was fit enough to walk the three-mile Race for Life, at Herrington Country Park, with other women from the Rosemary Conley class.

She now goes out five or six nights a week on four-mile walks.

The family have also got bikes, so they can go on cycle rides as another way to get active.

Mr Foster, 38, deputy manager of a short break unit for people with learning difficulties, is also delighted with his weight loss.

His wife said: "He looks much better. He can get younger clothes, too. It's absolutely great. We can pick out what we want now."

* Rosemary Conley Diet and Fitness Club classes are available in Cleadon.

For more information contact Chris Williams on 549 5455 or e-mail: christine.williams933@ntlworld.com.