AS pastor of her local church in Cape Town, South Africa, Elizabeth Fisher regularly risked her own life to help people on the fringes of society.

A member of the ‘rescue team’ she worked with prostitutes, drug addicts and violent gang members, offering them a desperately–needed helping hand to turn their lives around.

And now Elizabeth is using her skills to help the women of East Lancashire after moving to Oswaldtwistle this spring.

“I really like Oswaldtwistle,” said Elizabeth, 51, of Roe Greave Road.

“The biggest difference between East Lancashire and Cape Town is that the police don’t go around with guns here and there are not armed guards everywhere.

"Cape Town is a beautiful place but it’s very dangerous.

"There are killings every single day and you always have to look over your shoulder and be alert 24/7.”

Elizabeth moved to Oswaldtwistle after visiting New Lane Baptist Church in April and falling in love with fellow pastor Clive Fisher.

In May, just one month after they met, the pair married, and have dedicated their lives to helping others.

Clive, 64, who has lived in the town for 10 years, explained their unlikely meeting.

“I was chatting to a visitor to the church one day. Her name was Portia and she had come to East Lancashire from Cape Town,” he said.

“I told her that I had been praying for a wife for two-and-a-half years, and she said: ‘Well my friend in Cape Town has been praying for a husband, too.’ "We joked that perhaps we should get together. Never jest — someone might be listening!

“Portia and I went on to discuss problems in the community and I asked how we could reach the single parents and those struggling with drink and drug problems, people who were lonely.

"Portia said that, funnily enough, the friend she’d mentioned — Elizabeth — was very experienced in working with these people and regularly risked her own life to help them.

"I knew straight away that our church could learn a lot from Elizabeth and so we invited her over for a visit.”

Clive and Elizabeth exchanged letters, emails and phone calls for 11 months and when she finally touched down at Heathrow Airport, Clive was there to meet her.

“It was love at first sight. I knew immediately that she was the person I had been praying for,” said Clive.

Elizabeth agreed: “I have been through so much in my life and Clive is my gift from God.

"It was as if we’d known each other our whole lives.

"It’s astounding how two people from such different cultures could have so much in common, right down to life experiences and musical tastes.”

Now the couple work together visiting churches in the area — including Preston’s West Indian and African churches — spreading the word.

And last week they set-up a new women-only group in Oswaldtwistle to give local women a chance to meet new friends and learn new skills.

“There are a lot of women who need to be uplifted in this community,” said Elizabeth.

“Perhaps they're lonely, or maybe they’re single parents and struggling to cope.

"Maybe they just feel a bit isolated and want to meet new friends.

"I want to make them realise that they are important and that there is a community here that does care about them.”

The group isn’t about religion or politics, but just a chance for women to chill out with a cup of tea or coffee and a slice of cake and to make new friends.”

Elizabeth is planning on introducing fun activities to the group too, with greetings card making, flower arranging and a fashion show all planned.

“Lots of people don't have family that they can turn to and are struggling to cope on their own,” said Elizabeth.

“They don't need to. We will help. I just want to see women happy. I can't bear to see them sad.”

l The group runs every Thursday 11am to 2pm at New Lane Baptist Church Hall. Contact Elizabeth Fisher on 07794356013. All welcome.