A FORMER Blackburn woman has found success as a bed and breakfast landlady in Scotland - and helped put Blackburn Rovers on the map north of the border.

Sheila Hawkey has won second place in the AA Landlady of the Year contest, beating competition from 3,500 B & Bs across the country. Her business is in Aberdeen, but visitors from Blackburn will feel at home. It is called Ewood House.

Sheila, 48, originally from Brownhill, said: "My husband Fred came up with the name. He is a Blackburn supporter and it sounds good.

"The house hasn't got blue and white striped walls or anything! People don't realise the connection until they reach the dining room where Fred's got prints of Ewood Park on the wall.'' The couple moved to Aberdeen in 1973 with daughter Vanessa, now 26. Sheila spent the next 20 years "being a wife and mum'' with the arrival of Rosealind, now 19, and Elizabeth, 11.

But four years ago they fell in love with the former home for retired matrons and Sheila decided to become a landlady - a role into which she settled easily.

"It's just like having a big family, except they take home their washing. I'm their mum. That's about all there is to it,'' she said.

Sheila travelled to Claridges, London, for the awards ceremony and was thrilled to be named runner-up.

"It was a complete shock but lovely. We all like a pat on the back,'' she said.

Sheila and Fred, who works for Shell, return to Blackburn regularly to see family.

Sheila's sister, Carole Wardle, lives in Wilpshire and their mother, Mary Walton, is in Brownhill.

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