A MODEL from Swindon’s town centre who almost died in her battle with Crohn’s Disease could be named Britain’s spectacles wearer of the year.

Natalie-Amber Freegard, a 26-year-old fashion model, topped the south west's 25-34 age category in the annual Specsavers competition.

But it’s thanks to surgeons that she’s alive at all. Her heart stopped beating after she collapsed and emergency operation resulted in surgeons taking out over a foot of Natalie's small intestine. Crohn's disease affects the digestive system and can cause chronic pain and tiredness.

Natalie said: “I absolutely love wearing specs. I was delighted to hear that I had made it through as a regional finalist in the Spectacle Wearer of the Year competition.

“After struggling for years with my health, last year I was finally diagnosed with Crohn's disease. It's been a long and difficult journey, I had to take a year off work and my lowest point was when I collapsed, and my heart stopped beating. I had to have an operation where 35cm of my small intestine was cut out, which led to my diagnosis.

“Since then, however, everything seems to have been getting better for me, which is why I was over the moon to hear I had made it to this stage. Not only do I feel so fortunate to have been picked as a regional finalist, I feel lucky to be alive and I'm embracing every minute of it.”

Now, she could follow in the footsteps of Alex Miller, star of reality TV show Love Island, in winning £10,000 prize money and the chance to mingle with glasses-wearing celebrities at the awards ceremony in London.

Natalie was invited to Specsavers’ Regent Street store this month, where staff presented her with a £125 voucher, bottle of champagne and a free sight test.

‘It was a pleasure to meet Natalie,’ says Specsavers Swindon store director, Paul Ewah, Specsavers Swindon’s store director, said: “It was a pleasure to meet Natalie. She had lots of energy and looked great in her specs. We are all crossing our fingers that she can go one step further and make the final.”

The awards final will be held at swanky Trafalgar Square venue 8 Northumberland Avenue in October.