A DREAM has come true for a former Halton nanny, thanks to her ‘fairy godmothers’ - a bank and her landlord.

Leah McKeown, aged 24, launched her innovative party and events business, Happy Ever After with a Start-Up loan from the NatWest and help from Halton Housing Trust’s employment programme.

She was a live-in nanny in London for six years, was inspired after being taken on a three week holiday to Disney World in Orlando.

She wanted to bring the magic of Disney to young children across the north west.

She moved into a Widnes apartment and received help from Halton Housing Trust’s tenancy support team and a bursary from their employment programme Leah said: “Halton Housing Trust staff have been my guardian angels. They helped me settle into my new home and area . When I needed advice all I had to do was call them.

“I don’t know what I would have done without them.”

The bursary helped her to become an official Ofsted registered nanny.

A Start-Up loan from the NatWest made her dream come true.

Leah, aged 24, launched her business with a children’s party at the Ring O Bells pub in Farnworth.

She now creates party events with characters such as Cinderella and Snow White appearing in character and full costume.

She hopes to expand the service to schools and nurseries, offering educational character workshops and character lunches across the country.

She also delivers special messages to boys and girls through Disney themed phone calls.

A new £15 million Start-Up fund from Nat West and Business Finance Solutions could create 3,000 new businesses and more than 5,000 jobs across the north west.

To register, e-mail infor@start-up-now.co.uk or visit start-up-now.co.uk To contact Leah visit happyeverafterappearances.co.uk