Just 18 months ago, even a stroll to the shops was a challenge for Sue Bentley.

Tipping the scales at nearly 15 stone, the Wolverhampton mother-of-two smoked 40 cigarettes a day and had to use a walking stick to get around.

Now, after shedding an inspirational six stone, she is feeling fabulous and preparing to run the London Marathon.

The 37-year-old, of Orslow Walk, in New Park Village, says completing the 26-mile run will be the crowning moment of a gruelling and emotional 18 months in which she got divorced and slimmed down to almost nine stone.

After splitting from her husband, the commercial administrator decided to re-invent herself and embarked on an weight loss challenge.

She said: “I was a size 24 and had to use a walking stick to get around some of the time.

“I was always out of breath and had a 40-a-day smoking habit – I used to eat anything and everything.

“After I got divorced I just woke up and decided to do something about it. I want to see my children grow up.”

To shrink her figure, Miss Bentley headed to Wolverhampton and Bilston Running Club at Aldersley Stadium and began clocking up the miles.

She said: “I haven’t been to any slimming clubs or anything – I just started following a healthy diet and doing exercise.

“I actually always wanted to do the London Marathon before I turned 40 but never thought I would be in a condition to do it. Now I am going to be able to tick it off my list.”

She has already completed the Stafford half-marathon as part of her training regime but refuses to set herself a target time for the London Marathon on April 13.

“As long as I finish it, that is the main thing,” she said. “My new partner Simon Nevill will be there to cheer me on.”

Miss Bentley will also be raising money for the St John Ambulance , for which she is a divisional officer. Both of her children, 13-year-old son Ashley and 10-year-old Helen, are also involved with the charity.