THE most senior transgender woman serving in the British Army has said the fantastic support she received while transitioning made the her job "business as normal".

Captain Hannah Winterbourne, who joined the Army as a man, came out as transgender and started transitioning three years ago after a tour to Afghanistan.

Since then, the 29-year-old from Cardiff has received "incredible" support from her contemporaries and has praised the force for its "really strong diversity policies"

Capt Winterbourne, now living in Tidworth, said: "Support I've had has been incredible.

"The Army is a people-based organisation and looking after people is one of its key tenets, and that filters down through the entire ranks.

"I've served in several regiments now since transitioning and genuinely they've been fantastic."

She said she had been "pretty much treated the same" since she started transitioning, adding: "Obviously there are certain rules and regulations for male and female... but apart from that it's been business as normal."

As officer commanding the light aid detachment, King's Royal Hussars, Capt Winterbourne is responsible for about 80 soldiers including technicians and mechanics.

She is also the Army's transgender representative and a nominee in the Sun's Inspiring Others category for its annual military awards, the Millies.

The awards night on Wednesday will celebrate the bravest and best figures from the Royal Navy, Army and the Royal Air Force.

Asked if she thinks sharing her positive experience will encourage others to be open, Capt Winterbourne said: "I really hope so. I think that most transgender people to begin with live in fear of losing their friends, their family, their colleagues, their job etc, and that's quite a difficult place to be.

"If by other people hearing about my story it changes their minds and they are able to change their lives that's a really positive thing."

She said she wanted to extend a huge 'thank you' to "all the transgender veterans and those already serving who have really paved the way for me to be here".

"I'm very conscious that I live in a blessed time because before me there were many people who were in the same position but didn't get benefits that I'd had. So I wouldn't be here without them," she said.