THE Shuttle’s Biggest Loser Challenge ended with eight readers shedding a combined weight of 259 lbs in just eight weeks.

The competition, run in conjunction with Kidderminster’s 24/7 Fitness centre in Stourport Road, saw everyone lose between two and four stones and their success was based on motivation, training and healthy eating.

All contestants were guided through the programme by their own personal fitness trainer or attended classes for motivation.

Jemma Palmer, of 24/7 Fitness, said: “Everyone worked extremely hard and achieved amazing things. Some of them had never been to a gym before but they made it through all the challenges.”

With the help of his personal trainer Mitchell ‘The Cruz’ Gibbons, the winner was Ian Calder, who won a year’s free membership to the fitness centre and a bottle of Champagne.

Ian lost 17 per cent of his body weight during the two-month challenge and next best were Mike Banks and Lauren Roden (both 14 per cent) and Ryan Midgley (13 per cent). Others Shuttle readers taking part were Kate Collins, Sam Garfield, Tanya Mpundu and Helen Spiller.

Ms Palmer said: “Everyone who took part was a winner in their own right and we are all extremely proud of how well they have done.”

On the last day, the contestants were given a pampering with a treatment by Shelley Richards, of Lush Beauty, and hair styling by Emma Beddoes, of Amore Hair. A celebration of their weight-loss achievements was held at Kidderminster’s Nu Bar.