A former drug addict who turned her life around narrowly missed out on an award.

Kate Tree, from Strood, was nominated by her younger sister in the ultimate survivor category of the Cosmopolitan Woman of the Year Award.

She began taking drugs when she was just 11 and by 16 she was addicted to heroin.

She hit rock bottom four years ago, when her expensive habit led her to a six-week spell in prison.

Now the 29-year-old works full-time as a substance misuse trainer for the Kent Drug and Alcohol Team, training the police, social services and probation officers.

She is also studying for a degree in substance misuse management and caring for her two sons, aged eight and 15 months, while planning to get married soon.

Her ambition is to have her own drugs training consultancy.

She said: “I never had a life when I was younger, but now I’m making up for lost time.”