A BURNLEY health visitor who helped a young mum through post-natal depression has won a national award.

Jacqui Burrow, who is based at the St Nicholas Health Centre, in Saunder Bank, was named Outstanding Healthcare Provider of the Year at the Mother and Baby magazine awards after being nominated by 21-year-old Beki Wilkinson.

Beki, from Burnley, was dealing with an unhappy home life and the on-set of post natal depression after her son Owen was born 18 months ago.

She said Jacqui was her rock during this difficult time, and gave the help and support she needed to turn her life around.

The mum-of-one said: "I was having a really hard time and she was there to support me through it. She has helped me to make my life better and has given me a lot of confidence. Things are a lot better now, there are still difficult days, but I am very lucky that I have Jacqui there to talk to - I could talk to her about anything."

Jacqui has also inspired Beki to go into nursing herself and she will be starting a nursing diploma at the University of Central Lancashire in March next year.

Mum-of-three Jacqui, 35, of Rossendale, has been a health visitor since June 2001, before which she was an accident and emergency nurse at Wythenshawe Hospital, in Manchester.

She said: "The award was really unexpected - I didn't even know I had been nominated until they rang to tell me that I had won. Health visitors are like a professional friend . You get us even if you don't want us and in Beki's case I was able to provide support and care to her when she needed it the most.

"I was surprised and genuinely touched to find out that she had nominated me."

The pair travelled down to London last week for the special award ceremony at the Hilton Hotel.

David Peat, chief executive of Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale Prinary Care Trust, said: "On behalf of the trust I would like to say how thrilled and delighted we are that Jacqui has gained this prestigious award.

"This reflects well on her dedication and skills, as it does on those of her colleagues working for the trust in the local community."