A teacher on Romney Marsh has been selected as the first transgender woman to represent any country in the sport of angling.

Becky Lee Birtwhistle Hodges has been chosen for the England Ladies team at the World Shore Fishing Championships in Conwy County North Wales in October.

The Marsh Academy food technology teacher said: "I'm really pleased. It's kind of the start for me.

"Fishing is one of those things that people think you turn up and just throw your line in the water, but there's a lot of water craft involved.

"Although it's not got a massive uptake on the women's side of things, it's encouraging more to take part in it."

Becky Lee has lived in Littlestone for just over a decade, but grew up loving sports and water activities in St Ives, Cornwall. She used to be a PE teacher, but started fishing seriously in the last few years.

She believes her selection shows the diversity of the Angling Trust and the sport overall: "I've always wanted to do something to the best of my ability and I was asked by some of the England Ladies to apply for the team.

"I've had a lot of support from friends who have fished for England. All my friends have said I should go for it."

The 40-year-old said some questions were raised, but equality and inclusion rules in sport mean everyone must be considered.

Governing bodies for different sports have different criteria to see if there would be a distinct advantage, which Becky Lee was deemed not to have.

The former chef met her wife Carrie Hodges five years ago, and they chose to marry before her transformation in late 2015.

She said her experience of coming out was positive: "We were very open from the start. She said it didn't bother her.

"I know people aren't always as lucky. It's down to being positive and surrounding yourself with positive people too.

"I'm so much more relaxed because you're not hiding anything. You are who you are.

"It's very liberating not having to worry and people making assumptions."

Becky Lee is also the only woman in the South East to have been selected to represent the country in the self-funded sport, and attends a support group in Dover called TG Pals.

She said the school's understanding has been vital: "I think it says a lot for the community and my school. The students are amazing, they're really supportive. The school is really inclusive."

Shawn Simmons, head teacher at the Marsh Academy, said: "The Marsh Academy has changed so much over the decade it has been open, much of it has been really positive, with so many more opportunities available for our students, but perhaps what we are most proud of is how the school reflects and celebrates the diverse nature of our community.

"Whether that is the work we do with our LGBT community, the opening of a specialist provision for children with autism, the way our school welcomed unaccompanied asylum seekers as highlighted by the Archbishop of Canterbury, our community should continue be very proud of their school."

Roland Caley, chief operating officer at the Angling Trust, called Becky Lee 'an accomplished sea angler': "Angling Trust is an inclusive organisation that understands the need for equality in all participation events and as such we offer a warm welcome to Becky Lee into the England Ladies Angling Team.

"We all wish her, and her fellow team members, the very best for this year’s competition.”