A BRADFORD Council employee held a fundraising walk in her wedding dress today to celebrate her weight loss.

Amanda Potts, 59, wore her wedding dress from 2005 for a 20-minute walk from her office in St Peter’s House to City Hall, including a stroll through The Broadway shopping centre.

She was marking losing three stones since January.

Mrs Potts, who works as workforce development officer team leader for qualifications at the local authority, is a member of the Wakefield branch of the Soroptimist International – Yorkshire.

By completing her walk across Bradford city centre, she raised money for Breast Cancer Now and the Alzheimer’s Society, the two chosen charities of the Soroptimists.

Money from the walk also went to Young Minds, a mental health charity in Bradford, which is this year’s Lord Mayor of Bradford’s chosen cause.

Mrs Potts, of Featherstone, West Yorkshire, has raised more than £300, which will be split between the three charities, for her walk.

She said: “It was a lovely feeling when I was able to get into my wedding dress again and it needed to be taken in. Today is also about raising awareness for the three charities.

“It’s great that I have had lots of people pledge and give me money. I even took a collection bucket with me on the walk.

“Seven months to lose the weight is not bad.

“It felt like a good reason to wear my wedding dress again.

“I was larger than I am now when I got married.

“When I went through The Broadway a lot of people were giving me sideways glances, thinking ‘what is she doing?’

“My husband John thinks I’m barmy for doing this walk.”

Mrs Potts lost her weight through controlling her portion sizes.

She was joined on yesterday’s walk by her maids of honour for the day, workmates Karen Flathers and Harbens Sandhu.

Mrs Potts met the Lord Mayor of Bradford, Councillor Geoff Reid, and Lady Mayoress Chris Reid at City Hall.

The Lord Mayor paid tribute to Mrs Potts’ original and unusual fundraising feat.

He said: “I’m sure it is a one-off fundraiser.

“The combination of what Amanda is doing and who she is raising funds for works. They are three good causes.”

Soroptimist International is a global women’s organisation, whose members inspire action to transform the lives of women and girls around the world.