Bradford marks Substance 30th

Taylor Bradford has sold more than 31 million copies of her book

Novelist Barbara Taylor Bradford has marked the 30th anniversary of her first book, A Woman of Substance, at an awards ceremony named after the book.

The 76-year-old writer set up the event to find "ordinary women who do extraordinary things", just like the main character in her novel.

On her website she said: "I never anticipated that it would become such a source of inspiration for success."

A Woman of Substance is one of the top 10 best-selling novels of all time.

More than 31 million copies have been sold in more than 40 languages and in 90 countries.

Cherie Blair, Sarah Duchess of York and Esther Rantzen attended the event which was held at London's Dorchester Hotel.

Journalist Lisa Salmon was voted the real Woman of Substance after she survived a car crash, lost her sight and her son died.

Taylor Bradford said: "She truly epitomises what it is to be a real woman of substance today.

"She has had to deal with not one but a series of tragedies, which has caused her great physical and emotional pain, has had to find the strength to carry on and has overcome great adversity to reinvent herself and live her life to the full."