HOURS of hard work and dedication have paid off for Monica Finch, as she finished second in the Miss Athletic category at the British Natural Body-builder Championship recently in Cambridge.

This was her debut in the event and came only 16 months after the 31-year-old from Winklebury had given birth to her second daughter.

Finch (pictured) qualified for the British finals having finished runner-up in Oxford in one of the qualifying events.

In the finals she beat her Oxford victor to claim a brilliant second spot and said: "This was better than I had ever hoped for, and made the 12 weeks of hard work really worth it."

To get her body into prime condition for the championships is all to down to diet and exercise - there are no drugs involved in this branch of the sport.

Finch has a stiff training regime of weight training four times a week in the Aquadome, with a cardio-vascular workout afterwards.

Each morning, she also does an hour on a bike at her home starting at 5.45am, while the rest of her family are still asleep.

She has a strict diet 12 weeks before the championships.

She changes her diet, dropping the carbohydrates and upping the protein intake, which has the effect of making her feel tired in the last couple of weeks.

Finch said: "This success would not have happened without the help of my husband David and their children's grandparents.

"They help to look after the children when I need to train."

She feels it proves what can be done with exercise and diet and hopes she will inspire others to follow suit.

Finch said: "I know it is hard work but it is worth it and there is no reason why others cannot do the same."

The bodybuilder will be looking to go one better next year, which will give her a chance of the World crown.