NAOMI Hunt has become the fourth generation - and the first woman - of her family to join the Army.

Naomi, 18, has secured her dream job in the Royal Military Police after completing a National Diploma in Public Uniformed Services at Newcastle College.

She will start her career at a training camp in Winchester, Hampshire.

She said: "My great-grandfather fought in the Battle of the Somme, my grandfather fought in Second World War and my dad was also in the Army.

"I have always wanted to get into the armed forces and I really wanted to join the Royal Military Police, but competition is fierce and you really have to prove your worth before you get to interview.

"The course at Newcastle was recommended to me and it certainly provided me with plenty of opportunity to show that physically and mentally I have what it takes.''

During the two-year course Naomi, from Gateshead, climbed one of the highest mountains in Morocco, completed a Duke of Edinburgh gold award and 200 hours community service under the Millennium Volunteer Scheme.

Her father, Glen, 47, said: "Naomi's grandfather has really been the inspiration behind her joining the Army.

"He was in 4 Commando during the Second World War and survived for 48 hours in the Indian Ocean without a life raft, after being torpedoed while travelling to Burma in 1943. That has really been Naomi's driving force and she is very determined to succeed.''

Course tutor Rob Simpson said: "Naomi has worked very hard throughout the course and she certainly deserves her success."