IN the 21st century business world, where equal opportunities are rightly commonplace, there are industries where a woman's presence still causes whispers and stares.

But Ruth Lowrie decided from a very early age her interests were engines and motors.

And to the 23-year-old's credit he's taken those interests into her chosen career.

At 16 she was the only girl on the mechanics course she undertook at Darlington College.

And now she has just landed the post of assistant manager at a national automotive repair outlet.

Ruth, 23, originally from Great Stainton, near Darlington, said: "I admit that 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, proving she is still very keen to maintain her hands-on role. She added: "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, and it just seemed like the right career for me."

Ruth is believed to be the first woman to land a post as assistant manger at any of the national repair bodies operating in the region, and her manager, Nick Bamber, was delighted to have her on board.

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