Eight years ago Rebekah Testar worried about how her family would cope when her husband was forced to stop work due to hypertension and depression.

But last year her Avon company had a turnover of more than £2 million and she now employs 1,750 people.

Rebekah, was walking her daughters to playgroup eight years ago when she was approached by an Avon representative.

She was not sure if selling cosmetics was really for her, but she took a brochure and made an appointment to meet with a representative a week later.

After trying to cancel the appointment twice, Rebekah finally accepted a place in the Avon team and set about finding customers.

Now she is now one of Avon's most successful business women ever, having sold £4 million worth of the company's make-up, perfume and beauty products.

"I can't believe this has actually happened to me," she said. "It's absolutely amazing.

"When my husband had to stop work I really worried about what we were going to do.

"I thought why not try something different?

"But I never thought for a moment I'd be in the top 20 sellers in the whole company."

Rebekah started by selling products to local people but soon the business grew and she began recruiting more and more sales reps to help her out.

She now has 70 sales leaders and 1,750 representatives selling everything from lipstick to knickers all around the country.

She said: "I went out every single day looking for customers and within two months I had 300. It just grew and grew.

"It's not been easy but I can honestly say I absolutely and completely love my job and can't imagine doing anything else."

The mother-of-three used to work in a building society before becoming a full-time housewife.

She has lived in Cosby all her life, having attended Cosby Primary and Thomas Estley College.

Last month, she and husband Tony were treated to a long weekend in Monaco.

A company spokesman said Rebekah was now one of its top 20 sellers in the country.

You might think all this success would have gone to Rebekah's head but the savvy salesperson remains down to earth.

"I feel like I've only just scratched the surface and still have loads of do and learn," she said.