Nineties pop star Kavana has shared an inspiring message for anyone battling addiction.

The 46 year old singer, who's documented his battles with alcohol, posted a candid before-and-after photos on Instagram, taking his followers back to his lowest point last year and saying "recovery is possible."

Kavana – whose real name is Anthony Kavanagh – was just 20 when he hit the charts with his Top 10 1997 hit, I Can Make You Feel Good, which was followed up with MFEO (Made For Each Other) and Crazy Chance.

He went on to appear in E4's Hollyoaks: In The City in 2006 and appeared as a contestant on the reality TV show Grease Is the Word in 2007, where he was a runner-up. In 2013 he auditioned for ITV's singing show The Voice, but failed to progress past auditions. He came seventh in the 2015 series of Celebrity Big Brother.

However, the former star – who came out as gay in 2014 and admitted to a secret relationship with the late Boyzone singer, Stephen Gately – has faced struggles in recent years, finally deciding to turn his life around in the summer of last year.

Sharing photos taken over a year-and-a-half apart, he looks completely different to when he was at his worst and said he was glad he sought help.

Captioning the photos, he said: "On #addictionawarenessweek I want to make anyone struggling aware that recovery is possible. 20 months ago I was lost, broken and hopeless. Ask for help, I’m so glad I did."

Celebrity fans expressed their support including former Bad Boys Inc singer Matthew Pateman, who said, "Proud of you," Steps singer H Watkins, who commented, "Proud friend," and 911 frontman Lee Brennan, who simply added: "Superstar."

Fans also congratulated Kavana, with one saying, "You’ve done absolutely amazing well done on smashing it and never giveing up," and another commenting, "Incredible! So proud of you!!"

A third said: "We all loose our way sometimes but with help and support we can find out way back."

The singer first decided to stop drinking in January 2021, but had a setback 100 days into his recovery.

In April last year he said he felt "guilty and sick" that he had let himself down and promised to try again. At the time he wrote: "Ok. I think it's important for me to be transparent about my recovery."

"I relapsed after 100 days of sobriety. I feel guilty and sick and I hate myself after letting the people I love down. I thought I knew better. I have to start again."

A couple of weeks earlier, he had been celebrating being three months sober with his fans.

He wrote: "3 Months sober today. I've been here before but certainly feel a sense of freedom and clarity this time. If you are struggling there is no shame in reaching out, in fact it shows strength. And trust me – it helps."

In February this year he once again celebrated 100 days of being sober with another happy snap.

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