A GREAT Sankey woman has managed to transform one of the worst day’s of her life into a business that helps brides on the happiest days of theirs.

After being made redundant, Noreen Fernyhough, from Saxon Park, used her redundancy cash to set up the first wedding shop on a market in the UK.

The 45-year-old is now the proud owner of Nearly New but Beautiful on Warrington Market and says she has loved her first week of running the business for brides on a budget.

Noreen, who had previously worked for nearly 10 years as a learning mentor, said: “I had been in education for a long time and it was upsetting losing my job but there’s no use crying so I thought I would see what I can make of it.

“It took a lot of soul-searching and sleepless nights to do it but it seemed like an ideal opportunity.”

The mum-of-two, to Sean, aged 21, and Grace, aged 18, was inspired to open a store helping brides after her own wedding to husband Nick two years ago in August.

She added: “I had been married before but the first time was in a registry office and I didn’t have a dress so I wanted to do it properly.

“I didn’t realise how much dresses cost and saved up £1,200 for mine but then you only get to wear it for a couple of hours before it’s put in the wardrobe and never seen again.

“I have bought end of line dresses from bridal shops as they change as the season changes but are still fashionable and I want to give girls the same luxuries they would get in a bridal shop but for a fraction of the cost.

“The most expensive dress in the shop is £400 so it’s about keeping the prices low as weddings already cost an arm and a leg.

“We just hope now the word gets out.”