HATS off to a milliner from Haringey who went from homeless to home business to win an award for the admirable transformation.

Lydia Wall, 40, of Ferme Park Road, Crouch End, was chosen from a pool of 215 entries to win the Crisis Changing Lives Education and Training Award and highly-acclaimed Achiever of the Year Award after winning an work-placement with world-famous designer Philip Treacy.

All the entrants are people who were homeless but turned their lives around despite the odds.

Ms Wall: "I'm very thankful I was nominated. I think I’ve achieved a lot in a very short time and for me it was a kind of rollercoaster. I'm very pleased with my results and pleased that somebody else noticed it as well."

"It's been an amazing change. I’m looking forward to the future."

Ms Wall, a former professional clown, moved to London in 1997 with her husband but were evicted in 2001 after they struggled to pay the rent.

The couple then spent a year in a central London squat, and Ms Wall spiralled into depression and separated from her husband.

In a bid to get back on her feet, Ms Wall started to attend a hat-making class organised by homeless charity Crisis and realised she had a flair for head dressing and going on to study a course at Kensington and Chelsea College.

The hat-maker collected her award last Friday at a glittering ceremony presented by ITV News economics editor Daisy McAndrew.

Ms McAndrew said: "Lydia impressed us with her talent and sheer dedication. Her energy, creativity and commitment to learning are an inspiration, not only to others in education, but to all who aspire to achieve success."