A WOMAN who was sleeping rough on the streets of Winsford for more than a year is now teaching children to ride horses after turning her life around.

Bernadette Hodgson, who lives in Victoria House, Northwich, has taken up a voluntary post at Comberbach Equestrian Centre after getting her life back on track.

She said: "Living on the streets was a horrible, scary experience. I can't really explain just how bad it was because I lost my home and then all of a sudden I had nowhere to go."

Bernadette, 43, contacted Victoria House, a Muir Group supported housing scheme, in a bid to get off the streets and back into employment, and is now helping children to bond with horses and learn to ride and care for them.

She said: "The Muir staff have helped me get back on my feet and encouraged me to take the job at the stables. I used to love horses and riding as a child and I hope this will help me find a paid job working with horses."

Kate McInerney, deputy scheme manager at Victoria House, said: "Bernadette has had to deal with many of the problems that beset homeless people and this opportunity is helping her get her confidence back and put her life on the streets behind her."

Bernadette is now encouraging people who are living on the streets to try to seek help.

She said: "Hostels and other places for homeless people only seem to want to take in teenagers and young mothers so it was very difficult for me.

"I didn't feel there was anywhere to go but Victoria House shows that there is help there for people and it has changed my life completely - I'm really happy."