A 40-year-old woman from Kent has become the world amateur natural body building champion.

Mother of two Carol Streeter, who stands just 4ft 9in tall, only took up bodybuilding in January. Now she is preparing to turn professional after winning the crown at the world championships in New York.

Streeter, from Shipbourne Road, Tonbridge, said: "I have always quite liked working out at the gym. Having had the kids, my weight had yo-yoed. Then about three or four years ago I really piled on the pounds and weighed just over 10 stone. I thought, if I don't do something now it's going to be too late."

Streeter trains about two-and-a-half hours a day, five days a week at the Angel Centre, Tonbridge. She has reached the top without taking any supplements. She said: "I feel fantastic. I just love training."

Her first competition was the British Natural Bodybuilding Federation Southern Qualifying Championships, where she finished third. She then came second in the National Championships in October, and was invited to the International Natural Bodybuilding Federation Women's World Championships.

To win in New York, she had to compete against other lightweight amateurs in three rounds - symmetry, competition posing and a free posing routine set to music.

She then went head-to-head against the heavyweight group winner in a pose-down, and emerged as overall amateur champion.

She said: "This really hasn't sunk in yet. In just 10 months I have gone from being a mum and housewife to becoming world champion."

It was Streeter's husband, Carl, who got her into bodybuilding and has trained her to competition standard. She said: "It's been team work all the way through."

She also has two children, Luke, 15, and Tonya, 11. She added: "They are really excited. They get a real buzz out of it."

Streeter is now looking for sponsorship so she can go on the professional circuit abroad next year. She added: "I would like to think I could be an inspiration to others in some way."