Christine Adams is only 55.

But she says people – including her doctor – have mistaken her as being 10 years older than she is.

Her family have even taken to jokingly calling her Skeletor - after the cartoon character from 1980s television series Masters of the Universe.

Christine says the tragedy of losing her husband, Brian, known locally as Bumsy, 12 years ago to a brain haemorrhage has left tell-tale lines on her face.

She has been left with little or no self-confidence, has no photographs showing her smiling and she finds it hard to look into a mirror.

Now Christine, who is mother to Tracy, Dawn, Gail, Leanne and Lynn, has got down to the last 10 entrants to win £10,000 worth of plastic surgery in a magazine competition.

If successful, Christine's image overhaul would see her taking a trip to Prague for surgery including a face-lift, breast uplift surgery, and eyelid reductions.

Christine's daughter, Tracy, put her forward for the competition and the whole family are "over the moon" that she has got this far, says Christine, who lives in Cobb Walk on the Headland.

The grandmother-of-four said: "I get taken for 65 and I'm only 55. It makes me feel awful.

"Because I'm thin we have a joke and all the family call me Skeletor. I don't mind family but it can hurt.

"I went to the doctors for my sciatica. He upset me. He said 'it's your age and what you've been through'.

"I asked him what he was on about and he said 'when you were in the war'. I was born in 1951!"

Christine, who would like to look like singer Cher, said: "I was on a paper round when I was six and I say I'm still on it at 55.

"With being a widow and being on my own for 12 years with five girls and four grandkids I've never had time for myself.

"I'm very proud of them but I could start living again and look after me for a change. I really hate the way I look."

Christine wants the people of Hartlepool to help her achieve her dream by voting for her – and they could win £1,000 for their efforts.

To do so they can log on to www.fullhousemagazine.co.uk/makeover_vote, ring (0901) 030 8104, text MAKEOVERE to 80252 or write to Makeover Votes, Freepost, Full House.