A GREENOCK entrepreneur who feared her beauty business would not recover from the coronavirus crisis has told how volunteering at Belville Community Garden was a 'lifesaver'.

Michelle Munro has her own business based within a salon in Kilmacolm.

The 33-year-old, who has been working in the industry for 15 years, shut up shop on March 20.

She admits she was wracked with worry about what lay ahead.

Michelle, who lives in Fergus Place, said: "I remember that at the start of that week, things were okay and everything was fine.

"Within a couple of days things totally changed.

"March and through the summer is always my busiest time of the year with weddings and christenings.

"My husband is self-employed as well, he's a joiner, so it was a really difficult time for the both of us - there was so much uncertainty about the future.

"Hair and beauty guidelines were changing every week.

"There were times when I didn't think I would be able to open again.

"I cried every day and my anxiety was through the roof."

At the start of April, Michelle decided she wanted to do something to help out in the community, so she got in touch with the team at Belville, who were at the heart of the huge community relief effort as the pandemic hit hard.

From April until the middle of July, she was based at Crawfurdsburn Centre in the east end, helping the team with the preparation, organisation and delivery of meals for those stuck at home.

She worked from 9am until 4pm most days and says she met 'amazing' people who are now friends for life.

Her son Lucas, 14, and nephew Shay, 17 also helped out at the height of lockdown.

Michelle is now back at her beauty business again but had to spend a lot of money on furniture and personal protective equipment before reopening fully.

She's happy to see her customers again and says that her time volunteering in very difficult times has given her a whole new perspective on life.

Michelle added: "Belville was lifesaving for me.

"It changed my whole outlook.

"My industry is all about looking and feeling good.

"I wasn't seeing the poverty and what people were going through.

"People were really struggling.

"It was really hard to leave the team at the end of it.

"I was so happy to be part of the team at Crawfurdsburn.

"I'll cherish those times for the rest of my life."