Single parent Caroline Lyall, 29, hasn't let the recession stop her from realising her dream of starting her own wedding photography business.

After taking time off to raise her three-year-old daughter, Miss Lyall, from Horfield, decided she wanted to get back into work.

But she needed flexibility in a new job to allow her to care for her child.

Miss Lyall said: "I went to the job centre to talk to them about options, but to make enough money for child care I would have had to work full-time in a well-paid job.

"I didn't want to leave my daughter for that length of time so I thought setting up my own business might be the ideal solution."

In September last year Miss Lyall went to The Prince's Trust for help in taking the plunge into self-employment, and was given a low-interest loan and a mentor to help her for the first three years of her business.

She said: "Getting help from The Prince's Trust has meant it is less of a risk to set up the business. I have small loan repayments and someone with great experience to help me.

"I feel like I am in a really secure position, even if the economy does take another turn for the worse."

And although the economic downturn is far from over, Miss Lyall's business is flourishing.

She said: "The business is going well, despite the economic climate. People are still getting married.

"I feel really hopeful about the future."