IN the twenty-first century business world where equal opportunities are rightly in place, there are some careers where a woman's presence still produces a second glance.

Ruth Lawrie decided from an early age that her interest was in engines and vehicles, and she's built her career on that.

At 16 she was the only girl on the mechanics course at Darlington College, and now she has landed the post of assistant manager at a national automotive repair outlet.

Ruth, 23, originally from Great Stainton, said: "I admit people are still a bit shocked when they see me at work, but I've learned to live with it. I've never really had many problems because I'm a woman, and it obviously doesn't appear to have held me back."

As well as her post as assistant manger Ruth is also a fitter at the Darlington branch of Charlie Brown's.

She said: "When I was young what I really wanted to be was a long distance lorry driver. But working on a farm I always had an interest in vehicles and mechanics."

Ruth's manager, Nick Bamber, said: "It's not known as an industry where women are well represented and we are delighted to have Ruth working with us."