A SINGLE mother from Broughton Gifford is dreaming of starting a successful modelling career at the age of 32.

Ella Harding was one of the last 100 hopefuls who were selected from over 5,000 entries in a GMTV modelling competition, LK's Next Top Model, for women aged between 30 and 55.

She spent last weekend in London at the ITV studios, strutting her stuff on the catwalk in a bid to make the final live on GMTV with Lorraine Kelly.

She did not make the final cut, but simply getting down to the last 100 was enough for Miss Harding, whose life was turned upside down two years ago when her husband of nearly 12 years left her for another woman just weeks before she was due to give birth.

She said: "Obviously this was an extremely difficult time for me and the 18 months that followed were very dark indeed.

"I was left to give birth and bring up our daughter alone. The joy of giving birth to my first baby was marred by the ordeal I was going through.

"She was born under a lot of stress due to me being in such a state. Thankfully my family and friends stepped in and I was overwhelmed by their help and support. Somehow I managed to pull myself through the darker days, I was convinced I'd be on my own forever."

But in September last year she met a man who was a friend of her sister. The two hit it off and have been together ever since.

Miss Harding said: "The contrast in my life from then until now is unbelievable, I'm happy, settled and my daughter who is now nearly two is also happy and settled. She's a joy to know after what was, for her, a really rocky start in life.

"Entering the competition was a massive step for me. It's thanks to my new partner that I could find the courage and confidence and to believe in myself again.

"So it didn't matter to me that I didn't make the final cut, it was a huge boost to make the final 100."

Miss Harding was a successful model in her youth but gave it up without realising how well she was doing.

The competition has meant she has re-established her links with the fashion industry and has got back in touch with her old agency who have offered her work, 10 years after her original career as a model.