A pharmacist who has been running her Ilford business for over 26 years has reached the finals of a national award.

Shaheen Bhatia, 51, was selected as a finalist for the Hera prize in the NatWest everywoman Awards, which recognises an inspirational businesswoman who is aged over 50.

The owner of the P&S Chemist, Ilford Lane, was due yesterday (Wednesday December 4) to discover whether she had bagged the prize at a ceremony held in the Dorchester hotel, London.

Shaheen, who lives in Aldersbrook, said: “I am thrilled. There are some prestigious women who are finalists, some with OBEs, so it is nice to be included in that group.

“Coming from an independent business, I think it is great. It just goes to show anyone can do whatever they want in their life, it doesn’t matter what their background is.”

Shaheen, a finalist in the Asian Woman of Achievement Awards in May, was nominated by a NatWest manager who has seen the work she does in her pharmacy.

This includes offering free blood pressure and blood sugar tests, annual health check days and treatment for drug users.

She also works with young people who aspire to become pharmacists.

“I have trained a lot of pharmacy students over the last 10 years,” she said. “I must have mentored over a hundred.

“Some of them get nervous about the future and getting jobs, but I say that I had a lot of obstacles in my life and came out of it.

“I hope the woman look to me and think they can do it.”

She added: “I have devoted a lot of time to my work and didn’t spend much time with my children when they were growing up, so winning this would sort of justify it and say that my work is worthwhile.”