YOU walk on them, they ache, sometimes they smell and often you neglect them. But for one Barry woman, your feet are rather interesting.

Lesley Burnett is a chiropodist and reflexologist, who brings her work to you in the comfort of your own home.

Instead of spending a short time with you like some practitioners, Lesley will take 40 minutes to an hour making sure your feet have top notch treatment and feel at their best. Lesley, a driving instructor before taking up health treatments, said: "I've been doing reflexology since 1992 and going to lots of elderly people.

"They would ask if I could cut their toenails but I couldn't because I wasn't covered by insurance to do that. That happened for a few years and then somebody said isn't it about time you could? I looked into it and it's what I mainly do now."

She added: "I find the feet so interesting - they've always fascinated me. It's totally rewarding, especially if you go to people who are poorly. You are doing a skill they can't do anymore. As you get older, it's like somebody has moved your feet."

Lesley aims to work holistically, even with chiropody, to give an all-round treatment. But what does one of Lesley's chiropody sessions involve?

Lesley said: "I start by finding out whether they've had treatment before and why they've changed. It might have hurt, it might have taken longer than they'd expected - it's best to know before I start."

Lesley then gets them comfortable before starting with a foot bath and a thorough foot examination.

Next she carries out the treatment depending on what the person has wrong with them. Her work can involve corns, calluses, verrucae, athlete's foot, in-growing toenails and more.

She said: "You need to check the situation you're in and be aware of children and pets because of the equipment. Finally, after I've done the treatment, I cream their feet and legs. That's nice and relaxing as it finishes it all off."

Lesley's chiropody is made all the more pleasant by her knowledge of reflexology. She said: "People know the difference in your touch. When I did reflexology people said I should do chiropody. Now I'm doing chiropody, people say 'do you do massage, because if you don't then you should'."

But it's not just for the elderly. Whether chiropody or reflexology, Lesley spends much time working with many other ages, including kids.

Lesley said: "It's fascinating working with children. I usually wear colours with them instead of clinical white."

She added: "With reflexology you can discover they've got earache or a sore throat, something they might not have been able to tell their parents. For instance, some disabled people can't say what is wrong, so I can get feedback through their feet."

So is reflexology all it's cracked up to be? Can you really discover what is going on with the body?

Well, Lesley's husband Alan, who taught how to drive until taking up complementary therapies, said: "When Lesley said she was going to learn reflexology I told her she was bonkers. I didn't believe in any of this nonsense.

"But, about ten years ago I moved a disc in my back. I was in the building trade and was off work for nearly three years."

He added: "It was Lesley's reflexology that put me back on my feet. I was lying on the sofa and she came in and said I've just learned this technique on the spine. She touched a point on my foot and I jumped as it hit exactly the right place in my back. She got quite excited then because she had found it."

He said: "She's naturally a carer."

But it's not just reflexology and chiropody. She also does aromatherapy and treatments such as sugaring, waxing, eyebrow and eyelash tints, facials and more.

Lesley now spends her weekdays driving around people's houses from Cardiff to Llantwit Major.

The benefit is that she can go to people, rather than them have to visit her. This is especially useful for the elderly who are less mobile, disabled people or those on long-term sickness.

But for those who do want to visit her, Lesley can be found carrying out her treatments at Salon Caprice, Main Street on Fridays.

And it's not just Lesley who's busy, it's her husband Alan who does hypnotherapy, Reiki and more.

Contact Alan and Lesley Burnett on 01446 740682 or 07796 803389 or call Salon Caprice on 01446 735275.