IT'S back, it's looking for you — and this time, the Journal's Weight Loss Challenge is bigger and better than even last year's inaugural event.

Last year, 11 volunteers lost a total of 22st between them and raised thousands of pounds for North Devon Hospice.

This year, the Journal has teamed up again with fitness guru Wayne Large of Absolute Training in Barnstaple, and North Devon Hospice, to search for 16 determined volunteers who are willing to take up the challenge.

Wayne will be putting the volunteers through their paces in terms of fitness and nutrition between November and March and invites all comers.

"The reason we are doing this again, is to prove that our system really works and to help 16 people change their lives.

"I think it definitely helped last year's volunteers become aware of what to eat, when to eat and what exercise is all about."

But he said this year, things will be a little different.

"This time, it's 16 people over 16 weeks and again I will be looking for people who are tired, scared of exercise, or who have tried every diet plan there is to try.

"We want to take 16 people and show them that it's really not that complicated. They need to understand their bodies and the better they understand them, the more chance they have of a leading a long, healthy life."

A special 'sign-up' day is taking place in Green Lanes shopping centre in Barnstaple, this Saturday and Wayne said he is happy to talk to anyone interested in taking up the challenge.

"Anyone over 18 can apply and there is no upper age limit. We'll be looking for people of any age, who are just tired of being messed about, have tried everything else and this is their last attempt.

"They may be wanting to lose weight or improve fitness because of health problems like diabetes. The only thing we ask them to bring with them is a good attitude."

Anyone signing up should then make themselves available for a session at Wayne's gym, The Studio on The Strand in Barnstaple, during the weekend of November 6-7, where he will give them a taster of what's to come.

From there, he will whittle down the candidates to the final 16, who will be announced in the Journal on November 18.

As well as losing the pounds, North Devon Hospice are hoping they will be gaining a few too — of the monetary variety, as part of the challenge is to raise funds for the charity.

North Devon Hospice fundraiser Emma Lowe said: "The candidates will be set a fundraising target as well, as part of the challenge, which shouldn't be too difficult, as they will have our support to help them do that.

"So if anyone is wavering I'd just tell them, they've got nothing to lose — but the weight."

She said that judging by the volunteers from last year, there was plenty to be gained too: "It will give people a boost to their self confidence and a new lease of life, as well as helping us to reach our fundraising targets."

Anyone who would like to sign up, but who can't make it to Green Lanes on Saturday, can still do so by contacting Wayne Large on e-mail: info@exercisenutritioncoach.co.uk or by calling The Studio on 01271 344539