DETERMINED pub staff are swapping their pints for low calorie drinks to raise money for Great Ormond Street Hospital.

Beer swilling employees at the Jean Harlow pub, The Rows, Harlow, started a sponsored slim to raise funds for the childrens charity, after deciding they would like to lose weight for the worthy cause.

Landlord and landlady Terry Cook and Cath Godwin, barmaid Sue Holt and cleaner Debbie Duburquet all aim to lose at least 1.5 stone by August when Mr Cook and Mrs Godwin get married.

The food-starved foursome measure their weight every Monday, and incur a £5 fine for their charity if they fail to shed the pounds from one week to the next.

Following a range of diets, the super slimmers all have their reasons for wanting to lose weight.

Mrs Duburquet, 37, who is following a low fat diet said: I have put on weight since I started taking steroids for a stress-related illness, but I am also looking to find someone special.

She added: I thought it would be a good idea to have a sponsored slim because we all wanted to lose weight and help children at the same time. We want to raise as much money as possible.

Mr Cook, a qualified chef, has been finding it difficult to stick to fruit and vegetables and Mrs Godwin has started the Cambridge diet. They both want to be trim for their special day.

And Mrs Holt, 41, plans to train at the gym and has traded her pints for glasses of dry white wine which she hopes will help her lose three stone.

She said she hoped pub regulars and local businesses would sponsor their efforts and also encouraged reluctant slimmers to join their fatbusting team.

If you would like to sponsor the superslimmers or would like to make a donation, call Sue or Debbie on 425875.

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