A DRUG user who was in the grip of addiction changed his life when he had an epiphany watching the Elton John biopic Rocketman.

Elliott Sinclair, 22, had suffered several breakdowns during his nine-year battle with drink and drugs.

He admits his life was a mess and revolved around drink and cannabis.

But when he saw the 2019 film in which actor Taron Egerton lays bare the struggles rock superstar had in the 1970s and 1980s with drugs, he saw parallels with his own life.

Elliott said: “My family said they would no longer support me and I am so glad that they took that decision.”

He was on a bridge planning to end it all when a former colleague talked him down and the police took him back to his grandmother’s house.

Elliott, a musician and singer, said: “The following day, June 1, we watched Rocketman and in the movie I saw a mirror image of myself as Elton battled his addictions.

“The next day I moved back down to my mum’s in Waterfoot to live in a caravan next to her home and I went to my first recovery meeting in Accrington that night.

“I go to recovery meetings four-five times a week now and it was there I met Paul Becouarn, project manager for Rossendale Works.”

Elliott, of Waterfoot, said his problems were rooted in self-pity, lack of motivation, not being honest with himself and depression.

Now, if he feels he is disappearing into that negative spiral, he has the ability to stop it and turn it on its head.

He said: “I will go and do something good for someone else. One of the principles of recovery is to be honest, open-minded and willing and if I am going to be true to that I have to see what I can do to change a negative thought. I have had bad things happen since, but dealt with them positively.”

Paul got Elliott involved with Rossendale Works and the Active Lancashire Challenge through Sport Initiatives across Rossendale.

He now teaches guitar at The Boo in Waterfoot on a Friday, goes to yoga at Shenkido in Bacup and is an activity co-ordinator with Rossendale Futures projects at Rawtenstall Cricket Club and Ski Rossendale.

He said: “I had tried to stay sober before, but I didn’t have the support around me. It led to extreme depression, which made me go back to drinking.

“This time I started on recovery and stopped drinking and smoking cannabis at the same time and attended recovery meetings and I am grateful for everything Paul and Rossendale Works has done to help.

“I started being open-minded and accepted criticism and stopped blaming everyone else.

“Watching that film really did change my life.”

Paul said: “His progress has been fantastic and in such a short space of time his change has been phenomenal.”

Rossendale Works and Rossendale Futures are Rossendale Council schemes funded by a grant from the Department of Work and Pensions.

The project was initially set up for a 12-month trial period in partnership with Active Lancashire and was so successful it expanded in April.

To find out more email pbecouarn@activelancashire.org.uk