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Recovering drug addict says lockdown saved her life

Josh Sandiford
BBC News, West Midlands
BBC Chanel Walsh standing near a pub garden. There are benches behind her and there is a St. Georges flag on the roof. Behind her there is a shelter.BBC
Chanel Walsh, 34, next to a pub shelter where she used to sleep rough

Cars whizz past on a busy Birmingham road as Chanel Walsh points out a shelter in a pub garden.

It's an unremarkable if shabby structure, there to protect smokers from the elements.

For Ms Walsh, it is the exact spot she used to sleep rough while battling a drug addiction.

She has brought us here as the country marks five years since the start of the first Covid-19 lockdown as she believes the pandemic saved her life.

"If it wasn't for Covid I don't believe I would be here now," the 34-year-old said.

"With the lockdown, not going out, facing reality. 'Do I really want this life"An overhead view of Birmingham New Street. The station is a large glass mirrored building. There is a train driving on tracks to the left while there are numerous empty tracks on the right. " class="sc-d1200759-0 dvfjxj"/>

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