PICKING up a telephone to make a simple call was once a major source of fear for Kirsty Maguire.

Her stammering caused years of upset and misery - but the 20-year-old from Upton is now enjoying new-found confidence.

After searching on the internet for help she went on an intensive course and now speaks without a stammer and is aiming to fulfil her ambition of joining the fire service.

"Ever since I can remember I have not spoken properly and that has made me avoid certain situations," said Kirsty, of Dorchester Road.

"Being on the phone or at school was a problem. I took French and Spanish exams and had to speak in front of other people; that was difficult.

"I even had a Visa card and did not ring up to activate it."

Kirsty came across an internet site and enrolled on a course at The Starfish Project, in East Sussex, last month.

It was there she learned how to control and co-ordinate her breathing and speech to finally overcome her stammer.

Afterwards she was forced to test the improvement by going out on to the street, ordering food, making phone calls and talking to strangers.

Kirsty is now so confident she is planning to apply to join the fire service - something she had always felt she could not do with her stammer.

"It's not a cure. It is something that you have to work at. But I want other people with a stammer to know that there is a way out," said Kirsty.

Anne Blight, who runs Starfish Project, said: "Kirsty is an incredibly brave woman. She had a moderate stammer, but no matter what degree of stammer a person has they see it as a barrier.

"It is all about pushing yourself beyond the comfort zone. That is what Kirsty has done."