A woman who found herself accidentally stuck in Bolton after borders were shut in the first lockdown has now settled with a job in the town.

27-year-old Lauren Arris Cartwright has permanently moved from her home of Belfast to Bolton in unusual circumstances.

Lauren originally arrived in Bolton for a weekend trip with only a small bag of belongings, but has now decided to stay after landing a new career.

She originally flew in from Belfast to visit boyfriend of three months, Dan Penrose, and was due to fly home the day after lockdown began, cancelling those plans.

Every other attempt to return to Northern Island was foiled by lockdown restrictions.

Lauren had only visited Bolton once before this occasion, in November 2019, where she met Dan at a friends wedding.

Before lockdown she had been travelling the world, working as a cabin crew member, but has now found her feet in Bolton.

She was furloughed in July from her cabin crew job, but decided to leave this and start a new career at Bolton electrical retailer AO in the customer service team.

Lauren said of her journey to Bolton: "It was such strange circumstances getting stuck in Bolton – a town I’d been to once – and having to move in with my new partner.

"We had only known each other three months and seen each other four times since we met. I had just a few bits of clothing, makeup and my toothbrush with me – it really wasn’t ideal.

"Despite a daunting start, I’ve loved setting up a new life for myself in Bolton and joining AO has helped that.

"The team have been so supportive, from welcoming me to the business and Bolton but also, in giving me the opportunity to develop my career so quickly and helping me progress in just the short six-months I’ve been an AOer."

Lauren was part of 1,500 people to join AO during 2020 as part of the retailer's recruitment drive last year, in large part due to the move to online shopping seen during the pandemic with shops shut.

She joined in September last year with AO now saying she is an integral part of the team, supporting AO's new recruits.

Lauren’s manager, Lee McKeown, said: “Lauren story proves her tenacity and resourcefulness, so she’s fitted into AO perfectly.

"Her airline experience of giving personal service to every customer means she instinctively understands how to make them happy. And at AO, the sky is the limit for careers so we can’t wait to see where her journey with us takes her next.”