A YOUNG woman who almost died of a deadly brain disease in her teens has made an astonishing recovery and gone on to achieve her ambition to become a lawyer.

Ten years ago, Lisa Marie McNulty almost died after contracting the life-threatening virus,but fought back to pass her legal exam. Now she has launched her own business -- in a shop formerly owned by her mum.

Lisa, now 28, was studying for her A levels when she became seriously ill.

The disease left her struggling to function and constantly tired or asleep. She went on to develop ME three years ago.

Now, her dedication to her dream of becoming a lawyer has finally paid off. She has opened her own business specialising in mental health law and wills.

It is a double celebration for her family as the premises in which she has set up her solicitor's firm is the same shop where her mother Christine ran Toddler's Den, and later Stitch in Time, for a quarter of a century.

Christine set up the shop in Whalley New Road, Brownhill, with her mother Sylvia Bullen in 1976, in the hope that she could eventually pass the business on to Lisa. Now Christine will be working alongside Lisa.

The office is full of memories for the pair, particularly of Mrs Bullen, Lisa's grandmother, who died earlier this year, but they are both happy to see the end of an era and the beginning of a new one.

Lisa said: "It has a very comfortable and peaceful environment. It feels like a very contented place to me. It has a homely feel.

"It has been a long process for health reasons, but being a solicitor is something I have always wanted to do.

"There have been lots of obstacles in the way, but I have got there in the end. It is something I have worked very hard to do."

Christine said: "Things were very different when I opened the shop. People used to walk about more, and I think a lot of people came in more for a chat than to buy anything.

"It is another little shop that has closed and I think that is rather sad."

"I remember I used to do the window and Lisa would be climbing around it when she was little.

"It will still be 'the shop'. I don't think it will ever be the office, not after 25 years. It is full of memories for me. Mum was there every day and I'd only need to walk in and she'd put on the radio or the heating so I'd walk into a warm shop in the mornings."

Being a solicitor had been Lisa's ambition since she was 14 and she decided to opt for opening her own business when her doctor advised her to be more home-based, as she still suffers from ME.

After deciding to specialise in mental health law, she was also selected for the Law Society's mental health review tribunal panel, on the day she qualified. Usually only experienced solicitors are selected.

Lisa and her mother have decided to keep the children's toys which were available for customers from the wool shop, for clients of the law firm who might pop in with their children.

The old shop sold all kinds of wool in its heyday but also specialised in cross-stitching, tapestries and tension pieces.

Christine said: "There used to be those special days when people came in because it was pension day or something, but it is very sad now that that has gone.

"But it is a wonderful achievement that Lisa has overcome everything to set up her own business. We are very proud of her."