A woman who was bullied for being overweight has been selected to represent London in a beauty pageant.

Nadina Knight, 26, of Beech Hall Road in Highams Park, said she was a slim until she went to university, where her weight rose to 16 stone.

The 5ft 7ins 26-year-old now weighs nine and a half stone.

She said: "As a child and teenager I was slim and never had weight problems but throughout university I was overweight. 

"I was 16 stone and had people comment on my image constantly - it was like being picked on in a school playground. 

"By the time I reached 21, I had enough and ditched fizzy drinks, alcohol and takeaways," said Ms Knight. 

Now she has been selected to represent Greater London at the Miss Earth England competition after entering for the second time.

The regional heats of Miss Earth England take place on September 21.

For more on this story see this weeks Waltham Forest Guardian and Chingford Guardian - out Thursday