FOR the clients whose shoulders and back she gives a rub down it can soothe away all of life's stresses and strains.

But for massage therapist Kelly Cole, 27, repeatedly helping others relax can prove harder graft than some may think.

Nowt the efforts of the mother-of-two and her healing hands have now been rewarded after she was crowned massage therapist of the year at the English Hair and Beauty Awards.

Kelly, 27, from Sutton Heath works part-time at Renaissance Skincare and Beauty in College Street.

She began training in beauty in 2007 at St Helens College and completed her studies in 2013, having taken a year out to have her first daughter, who is now five.

The former Sutton High pupil said: "I started working part-time while I was studying so I've been doing this for more than four years.

"It's a demanding job - if you do ten massages in a day it's very tiring but we have to treat all customers the same, whether they are the first or last of the day.

"As well as massage, I do facials, nails and other treatments - the variety is nice. But I like massage best - it's my background, holistic therapy and aromatherapy.

"I studied the benefits for ailments and long-term conditions and you do hear about the benefits from regular clients.

"There is one lady who comes every week. She has terrible back pain and was always at the doctor and having three injections a year for the pain.

"She came for a massage as a last resort. She didn't think it would work but now she swears by it and she's only had one injection in last two years.

"She says she sleeps a lot better and couldn't live without the massage."

The Renaissance salon also won the title of Best Tanning Salon 2015 at the awards, which were held in Manchester.