Gail Porter
The troubled former TV star is now working in a charity shop. Reuters

Troubled TV girl Gail Porter has started working in a charity shop in a bid to give back to society and get her life back on track.

The 40-year-old former TV-pin up has taken part-time shifts at one of Mary Portas's charity outlets, Living And Giving, in Primrose Hill, North London.

According to the Daily Mail, Porter who suffered a mental breakdown and had be sectioned under the Mental Health Act in 2011, is doing voluntary shifts at the outlet which raises money for the Save The Children charity.

Porter, a well-known Alopecia-sufferer, opened up shortly after her breakdown last year and told the Sunday Mirror that she was "old and knackered, bald and mental."

Her new job, which she started three months ago, comes as she continues to try and rebuild her life after a turbulent few years.

However, the single mother's growing confidence was a knocked last week after the store was targeted by thieves.

Porter appealed for the return of a sign, inscribed Home Sweet Home, which has been stolen.

She said at the time: "I am gobsmacked. Maybe I am naive, but I really didn't think people had it in them to steal from a charity."

A Save The Children spokeswoman told the Daily Mail: "Gail has been fantastic. It is not out first theft, someone stole a fabulous Ossie Clark dress from the window."