Bobby Barnes, 19, knew from a very young age that he was meant to be a boy and began hormone therapy to start the process when he was just 15 years old.

"It was natural for me - from day one I felt like a boy," he said.

His mum Tracey said she always knew that Bobby was different and wasn't at all surprised when he decided to begin his transformation.

She said: "I knew anyway, he was very much a tomboy. He said he wanted to have a boy's haircut and a boy's school uniform like his brothers."

Another person who knew everything about Bobby was Tracey's best friend Donna. The two became friends when Donna 15 years old and she was always apart of Bobby's life as he was growing up.

The pair had lost touch for a while but last year Donna and Bobby met at a pub while on a night out.

"I didn't think I was going to be walking out of the pub with him. I was actually supposed to be kissing someone else, but then Bobby spun me round and kissed me," Donna said.

"I was scared because obviously me and Tracey are really good friends, so when I woke up the next morning I felt a bit nervous because I've always known Bobby from a young age. I know everything about him, even when he was younger, running around and beating up his little sister."

Donna admits she was wary about what people would think about their relationship.

She said: "I was worried what people would think, but then I thought I don't really need to care about other people's feelings as long as I know that I love him and we're going to be together forever."

Despite the unusual turn of events, mum Tracey said she was glad Bobby and Donna are now together.

"I was happy - Bobby has had girlfriends in the past around his own age group, who didn't really know how to deal with it all. But when he got with Donna who already knew everything I felt relieve," she said.

The pair are now engaged and looking forward to their life together. Meanwhile Bobby is currently on a waiting list for surgery to complete his transformation.