A MUM who has battled through years of hardship was stunned after a TV camera crew popped into her home to give it a secret £13,000 makeover.

And it was all thanks to her loving friends who felt she deserved a treat.

Sharon Gillinghan was born with polio and over the last five years has suffered breast cancer and dealt with the sudden death of her husband.

So as a surprise treat, friends Tracey McGlashon and Christine Barklem contacted ITV producers and arranged for the team from the hit show 60 Minute Makeover to visit her York home and work their magic.

A team of about 20 people took over the street while the 54-year-old’s living room, bedroom and her daughter Lauren’s room at the property in Kirkham Avenue, Heworth, were transformed.

Sharon was kept well away from the action by family and friends.

Christine said: “Sharon has had a really rough time and she really deserved some pampering but doesn’t have the money to do it herself. She was born with polio then she battled cancer and her husband took wonderful care of her all through that time.

“Then 15 months ago he tragically died.

“He went for a hernia operation at the hospital and never came home. It was terrible.

“We just wanted to give her a lovely surprise.”

She said Sharon had been desperate to redecorate her home and had been saving up for a television.

“So imagine her surprise when she walked in to find a huge plasma television in her newly decorated home,” Christine said.

Sharon said she was stunned when she walked into her new home. “I just couldn’t believe my eyes,” she said. “It looks beautiful – how I always imagined it. It was just the pick-up I needed.”

Gabby Rodriquez, assistant producer for the show, said the team of handymen and women had transformed the tired looking lounge area with a cream and black décor along with new furniture and a state-of-the-art plasma television.

The main bedroom received a total revamp with fitted wardrobes, new wallpaper and Lauren’s new lavender and silver bedroom will be the envy of all her friends with new furniture, plasma TV, Nintendo Wii, and an Apple Macbook laptop and workstation.

“When we heard of Sharon’s story, we really felt she deserved to feature on the show,” Gabby said.

The ITV1 show is now in its sixth series, and is presented by former Hollyoaks star Terri Dwyer along with a professional designer and team of handymen and women. The episode will be screened later this year.