An operatic dog walker who serenades her canine companions on Wimbledon Common is aiming for a professional career after years of fighting eating disorders.

Shona McBay, of Beresford Road, New Malden, has been a regular fixture on the common for the past 14 years, drawing regular compliments from passersby who hear her singing. But up until five years ago Shona could not even face listening to the classical music she loves.

Shona's hopes of a professional music career started to suffer when she developed bulimia and anorexia at 15.

"I don't know if it was something to do with my childhood because I was raised by my mother and grandmother, I'm not sure.

"I managed to get through all my A-levels and I studied music in Edinburgh. I then got a scholarship to study at the Guild Hall in London.

"I had a chest infection and went to the Maudsley Hospital where they told me I was underweight. I had to go there every week to be monitored."

Shona continued singing but eventually had to give up.

"I think the singing was competing with so many things. I had to do all sorts of jobs just to make ends meet. So it all got put into the background. It got to the stage where I couldn't even listen to music for about 15 years because it upset me so much."

However, on Sunday Shona will be the star of a charity afternoon for Battersea Dogs' Home, Greyhound Welfare and London Wildlife Hospital in Wallington.

She added: "I am fighting fit now but always pretty tired as walking the dogs is demanding.

"The dogs occasionally join in but on the whole they don't bother. I'm 45 now but I don't feel 45 as I've never had any children."

Shona, who also feeds cats, is now looking confidently towards the future.

"For the first time in my life I feel in control. Basically, singing fulfills a need inside me. I would love to be successful at it and I would love to give other people pleasure and if I could make a living from singing I would be over the moon. I don't want my talent to go to waste."

The musical afternoon, which will also feature other performers, begins at 2pm at the Wayfarer Hotel in Wimbledon Broadway.

Tickets cost £12 and are available from Marion Blech on 020 8946 8135.