A Kurdish woman is celebrating receiving her British citizenship six years after coming to Carlisle as a refugee from northern Syria.

When Shireen Hameh first arrived in the city at 19 years old, she had to quickly adjust to a new culture and learn how to speak a new language.

But, she found herself studying and has made a life here with the support of her mentor Linda and volunteers at Carlisle Refugee Action Group.

She said: "Receiving my British citizenship after six years is a moment of immense pride and joy.

"It feels like a culmination of hard work, resilience, and adaptation. Also, becoming a part of this culture, it's easier to explore the planet.

"I'm excited to contribute even more as a British citizen."

Having studied for various different courses and undertaking an apprenticeship with the then Cumbria County Council, Shireen has now just completed her second year in interior design at London Metropolitan University.

Kurdish culture plays a large part in her interior design work as it's an intrinsic part of who she is. 

"I don't mean to bring the Kurdish culture in everything, but I forget it's part of me, it's the biggest part of me," she said.

"In the Kurdistan flag there's a sun in the middle... the sun means a lot to Kurdish culture.

"Everything I do, it's that strong colours or the sun has to be involved."

Shireen's family left Syria in 2015 as her dad was struggling to find treatment options for his cancer so he was away from home a lot.

Her parents were staying in Kurdistan for treatment and took Shireen with them due to the ongoing war in Syria. 

"That was the moment my life changed completely changed, in 2015 when we left and I left my school, I left my friends, I left my family," she said.

"I'd never done that. I'd never gone three days away from my family or my friends, I was always with them.

"I had to do that and that was the hardest thing I've ever done in my life."

Shireen and her mum knew nothing about Carlisle until the day they were told by the UN that they were moving the night before they were due to leave. 

But, she feels like she "belongs to the north" having grown up in northern Syria, moved to Carlisle, and now living in north London. 

"Carlisle is still my home, though," she said. "I always come back to Carlisle because my mum still lives here."