LIFE can be hard as a single parent, reliant on benefits in a constant struggle to make ends meet.

LIFE can be hard as a single parent, reliant on benefits in a constant struggle to make ends meet.

But that did not deter one Weston woman from achieving her goal of becoming a successful entrepreneur.

Emma Harris, of Ottawa Road, on the Coronation Estate, has bounced back from her dark days of buying clothes at car boot sales to start her own internet business, but not before a long struggle.

Mother-of-two Emma, aged 32, said: "It's frustrating because you get stuck in a position where you really want a job, but having been out of work for so long means the only jobs you can get are very low paid and would leave you struggling to keep up with bills and childcare costs - especially when you are on your own."

But after going back to college to take a BTEC and HND, Emma took a �900 interest-free loan from The Prince's Trust and formed Deed Media.

The firm offers web design, logos and multimedia services and has grown into a success since it was started one year ago.

Emma said: "The Prince's Trust Business Programme was brilliant it completely changed things for me. My youngest child just started school so it was a perfect time for me to set up my business working from home.

"They also put me in touch with other organisations that were really helpful. It has allowed me to expand my network of business contacts and make some very good friends."

Now, 14 years on from when she fell pregnant with her first daughter, Lori, she has a stable income and sees herself as a positive role model for her children.

She said: "I would like them to grow up knowing that they can be anything they want to be in life as long as they work hard."

Her achievement has been helped by the trust's Undiscovered campaign, which calls for Government, businesses and individuals to help the charity raise �1m a week to support unemployed and disadvantaged young people.