THE menu of daily delights' tempting the slimmers at a new county slimming club set up 21 years ago included herring roes on toast and Golden Wonder Pot Rice.

Nowadays it's more likely to be an altogether more mouthwatering selection including pitta and hummus or mushroom risotto.

But whereas the menu might have come on in the last two decades, the simple message of slimming guru Linda Farr has remained the same - "losing weight is as easy as ABC".

Linda held her inaugral meeting of ABC Slimming Club at Sansome Walk Swimming Pool on March 3, 1986. An amazing 92 people turned up to learn how to beat the bulge after an article in what was then the Worcester Evening News, told of Linda's own weight loss success.

Linda had been featured in Slimming Magazine when she lost nearly two stone, to hit her target weight of 9st 12lbs. Her experiences inspired her so much she decided to branch out on her own - and she has never looked back.

"I've had some superb weight losses over the years," Linda says."Whether you've got 7lb or seven stone to lose, it is just as important." For details call Linda on 01684 594731.

* There are many slimming clubs operating in and around Worcester.

To find out more about Weight Watchers meetings call 08457 123 000 or visit www.weightwatchers.co.uk. For details of Slimming World classes call 08700 754666 or visit www.slimming-world.com. Rosemary Conley Diet and Fitness Clubs can be found at www.rosemary-conley.co.uk or by calling 01509 620222.

JO LEWIS - 18 stone to 11 stone

Joining weight: 18st Current weight: 11st Target weight: 11 st Jo's life changed forever when she joined ABC. Seven years ago, she had tried just about every diet on the block but nothing had worked and she just couldn't shift the pounds.

But after her mum, Phyllis Parker, was told she needed to lose two stone before a knee operation, the pair decided to join ABC together for moral support.

It took Jo just 18 months to lose seven stone and go from a size 24 to a size 10 - the size she still is today.

"Fourteen stone was my initial target weight but then I just kept going," she said. "That's the good thing about ABC - you don't have to set a ridiculous target weight which seems impossible to achieve at the outset. It's all about taking smaller steps to get to your goal."

Jo, aged 47, said that she went from "eating everything" to enjoying a healthy balanced diet.

"Because it's calorie controlled, you can still eat anything you want - but you have to account for that in your daily allowance," she said.

She has changed unrecognisably since losing the weight and said even her own dad, who she didn't see for three years, didn't recognise her.

"Linda saved my life," she said.

RITA LEE - 16 stone to 10 stone

Joining weight: 16st Current weight: 10st 7lb Target weight: 10st 7lb Rita was one of the original founding partners of ABC, along with Linda, all those years ago. She "went by the wayside" after eight years, but three years ago decided to rejoin after suffering ill health.

"I had been to the doctors and I was diagnosed as glucose intolerant, bordering on diabetes," the Lansdowne Road, Worcester, woman said.

"He said part of it was down to my age, which I couldn't change, but that I could make a difference by losing weight.

"After leaving ABC my weight had gradually crept back up over the years, but I rejoined and lost five and a half stone in 11 months.

"I went back to the doctors when I reached my target weight and my glucose levels were normal again," the 71-year-old said.

PAT REID - 17 stone to 13 stone

Joining weight: 17st 11lbs Current weight: 13st 11 lbs Target weight: 9st 11lbs Pat joined ABC in August 2006 after returning from a holiday in Tenby.

"There was one hell of a climb up the hill to where we were staying and I thought I was going to die walking up it," she said.

The realisation that she was so overweight was so strong that the day after returning home to Worcester, Pat saw her doctor. "He told me I was carrying both my two young children and more in terms of excess weight," she said.

"At that point I knew something had to be done.

"I wanted to be able to play with them but just had no energy - walking made me tired."

Pat, aged 43, joined ABC Slimming Club that week and six months later has already lost an incredible four stone.

LINDA'S ABC RECIPE FOR CORONATION WALDORF SALAD

Serves 2

3oz pilau rice 2 level tsp mild curry paste 1 level tbsp mango chutney 3oz fromage frais - 0 per cent fat 6oz lean cooked chicken 1 medium dessert apple 2 thick slices cucumber chopped 1 level tbsp walnuts chopped chives

Cook rice and leave to cool. Mix curry paste, chutney and fromage frais together until smooth. Cut chicken into bite-size pieces. Slice apple and cucumber and toss in curry dressing with rice and remaining ingredients. Serve on crisp lettuce leaves.