Anne Sykes had wanted to go it alone for years but didn't do anything about it until she had a mastectomy.

Now she runs communications firm Ten09, which deals with the media, print, PR and advertising, with business partner Denise Dickinson.

Anne told The Northern Echo that her illness gave her the big push she required.

She said:

"It certainly gave me the kick up the backside I needed. It was my inspiration. I needed to do something different and I thought to myself, 'I can do that, I can run my own business'."