A TEENAGER, who battled anorexia, has turned her life around by becoming one of the youngest pet shop owners in the country.

Jessica Bourne, of Tardebigge, still suffers with the eating disorder and five months ago weighed just 6st 3lbs.

The 16-year-old and her parents were told Jessica would not survive unless she agreed to counselling and radically changing her lifestyle to help fight the disease.

In a desperate bid to give their animal-loving daughter the will to live, Jessica's parents - Bob and Jill - said they would fulfil a childhood dream and lend her the money to start her own business.

Within a month Jessica had found her own premises and on Tuesday, February 1 - her 16th birthday - she received the paperwork to Jessica's Pets in Church Street, Bromsgrove.

"I have had to battle really hard to fight this disease - and I still am," said Jessica. "But this has given me a goal to focus on and meant I could concentrate on looking to the future."

The former Kingsley College pupil had been so ill she was unable to attend the Woodrow school since Easter 2004.

Despite officially leaving school, Jessica is not legally allowed to work more than 12 hours in any seven days.

So the young businesswoman has employed four members of staff to help and manage the day to day running of the shop - from ordering stock and designing leaflets to researching animals' needs - from home as well as working at the shop on Saturdays.

"This shop has boosted her confidence and helped her face the demon inside. If she can cope with anorexia she can cope with running a business and make it a success," said her proud father.