Labour councillors agree to take part in sponsored slimming contest for charity

WHEN chief executive Tony Hunter talked of creating a smaller, leaner North East Lincolnshire Council, this is probably not what he had in mind...

But members of the ruling Labour group on the authority are aiming to make major cutbacks to their waistlines as part of a sponsored slimming contest.

Thirteen councillors, including leader Chris Shaw and deputy leader Mick Burnett, as well as Mr Shaw's personal assistant Sandie Hullett, will be attempting to shed the most pounds to raise money for the local branch of the NSPCC.

The contestants, who weighed in at a combined 1,241kg, have until November to make their new diet and exercise regimes count.

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Mr Shaw said: "The idea came from Councillor Ray Oxby. He thought he needed to lose some weight and I could do with losing some weight, so we decided the best way to do that was to give ourselves a goal and raise money for charity.

"I told my wife I want to get myself a beach body, to which she replied, 'what, instead of the beached whale body you've got now?'.

"I'll have to get my diet sorted out. There will be no bacon and sausage from now on. It will be all salad leaves. I'll be doing some gym work and I'm going to be cycling to work."

Mr Burnett said: "We always look for different ways of fundraising for the mayor's charities and one of the council's priorities is health and wellbeing so that fits in well with that.

"It's important for me to lose weight and I will be eating differently from now on. I'm aiming to lose between one and one-a-half stone."

The NSPCC is a chosen charity of North East Lincolnshire's Mayor, Councillor Mike Burton.

He joked he could not take part in the slimming contest as he had "a lot of buffets to eat" as part of his civic duties.

"This is a council of weight and substance, and it will become a council of substance," he said.

"I think it is a brilliant idea and I will certainly be cheering them on as they attempt to shed the pounds.

"It is very difficult in this role to lose weight when you are catching meals between your duties, so I admire them for making the effort."

To sponsor the councillors, visit www.justgiving.com/Mayor-NEL.