AN Atherton family is hoping its luck has changed at last following a disastrous start to the new century.

This year 25-year-old mum of two Andrea Davies has mourned the death of her uncle in a tragic road accident and discovered that a young cousin is living with cancer.

But news that her three-year-old daughter, Aimee, has been accepted by a Bolton Modelling Agency has made the future look brighter.

Andrea, of Roland Street North, said: "We have had a load of bad luck this year, we are just hoping we are at the crossroads now.

"We were stunned when my uncle, Malcolm Dean, died in a traffic accident on his way home from work on the Wirral in November.

"We had no sooner come to terms with that than my cousin Andrea Pendlebury, 25, was diagnosed with a rare form of blood and bone marrow cancer in March.

"Andrea, of Young Street, Leigh, who has a toddler son, Matthew, is fighting hard and being treated at Christies.

"She had a boost recently when a suitable bone marrow match was found in her younger brother."

Andrea, is now hoping that Aimee, a vibrant red head with blue eyes, and nine-months-old Laura who was shortlisted by the agency, will now find modelling success.

She said: "I'm really proud of them."