It was 1998 and Kirsten Hughes was experiencing the lowest point in her life.
Eight months pregnant with her second child, she was going through a marriage breakdown, and nine months later had been left with no choice but to ask for a council house for her and her two young daughters.
Despite the fact she would have been financially better off receiving benefits than continuing with her job at Atherton agency David Speakman Travel, Hughes did not see that as an option.
Besides, she had other things on her mind.
