Sex change sailor gets tattoo op

Tattoo removal can cost thousands of pounds

A former sailor who had a sex-change will get her tattoos removed on the NHS because she feels "unladylike".

Tanya Bainbridge, 57, who was born Brian, wants the laser treatment so she can wear sleeveless dresses and tops.

Miss Bainbridge lives with her boyfriend, Mark, in Middleton, Greater Manchester. They are both unemployed.

A spokesman for Heywood and Middleton Primary Care Trust, which will fund the treatment, said: "We cannot comment at the moment due to data protection."

The procedure is believed to cost £2,500.

Some women have tattoos on discreet parts of their body - they don't all have pictures of sailing ships and a swallow on their forearms Partner of sex change sailor

Miss Bainbridge, who had nine children - from whom she is estranged - by three different women, had a £20,000 sex-change operation on the NHS in 2001 at Charing Cross Hospital in London.

Now a faded blue, the tattoos, which were done when she served in the Merchant Navy from 1964 to 76 - show a ship and a swallow which includes the names of some of her children.

Her partner Mark, 48, said: "Some women have tattoos on discreet parts of their body - they don't all have pictures of sailing ships and a swallow on their forearms.

"People are probably against it but it has been really upsetting her just lately. It will make her more comfortable."

Cosmetic surgery is not normally free on the NHS, but doctors have agreed to go ahead because the tattoos are making Miss Bainbridge depressed.