BLACKBURN'S first Asian woman solicitor has come close to winning the title of North West's top woman.

Bushra Anwar, who started her business with "just a table, a telephone, notepad and pen" was named runner-up in the 1999 North West Woman of Achievement awards.

She received her prize at the Midland Hotel, Manchester, in front of 400 guests.

Miss Anwar, of Beardwood, was nominated for the award by her employee Mussarat Ellali, who told the judges how her boss had climbed the ladder of success despite various setbacks.

Mussarat said: "Miss Anwar has achieved so much from nothing.

"She had no savings or financial backing, yet she has done so well and now employs 12 staff. She is also a single mother who juggles family life and work responsibilities."

Miss Anwar, who is the first Asian woman to be honoured in the awards, had no idea that she had been nominated. She said: "I'm so busy all the time that I had no idea my name had been put forward. It was a real surprise.

"But when I got to the ceremony I felt like I had been pipped at the post for first prize as so many people came up to me and said they thought I should have won."

Guest speaker at the ceremony was Nicola Horlick, managing director of SocGen Asset Management Ltd, who was dubbed "superwoman" because of her ability to juggle a high-powered career while bringing up five children.

The Woman of Achievement winner was Angela Gray, from Flixton, who successfully campaigned to save the children's ward at Trafford General Hospital from closure.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.