The first woman to qualify in the RAF as a pilot and then be promoted to aircraft captain has swapped military uniform for maternity wear.

Julie Gibson flew Hercules aircraft at RAF Lyneham for seven years.

She has set up Does My Tum Look Big In This offering formal maternity wear hire across the south of England.

Julie left the armed forces six years ago and has since pursued alternative careers working for a commercial airline and studying as an occupational therapist.

She doesn't fly any longer but is keen to combine motherhood and a working life. "I felt that running my own business from home offered me the best of both worlds," she said.

"Having struggled myself when pregnant to dress the right way at the right time in comfortable and flattering garments, I believed there was a gap in the market."

Julie is one of an increasing number of women starting up in business.

Latest figures from Barclays, where Julie banks, show the number of women starting their own businesses is up by 12 per cent to 139,700 in 2006, indicating more are deciding to take the plunge.

Julie said: "Setting up a new business is completely new to me.

"But I'm excited about giving mums-to-be the opportunity to hire some fantastic maternity wear for formal occasions such as weddings, black tie functions or to a day out at the races.

"By having clients come to my home by appointment only, this is ideal for managing the demands of being a mum as well as putting my own entrepreneurial skills to the test."

Graeme Harrison, local business manager for Barclays in Swindon said: "Setting up a new business is hard work but also rewarding particularly if your business is linked with a passion for the product and service you are offering.

"My role is to ensure that as the business grows, Barclays continues to support with the right banking solutions at the right time."

Prices to hire maternity dresses from Does My Tum Look Big In This range from £15 up to £95 depending on the outfit and include a choice of designers such as Mimi, Motherhood, RIPE, Formes and Olian.