A former male World War II veteran has decided to live as a transgender woman at the age of 90.

The soldier, formerly known as Peter, is intent on fully becoming Patricia in her tenth decade - and has begun taking female hormones.

Patricia revealed that the only thing that has stopped her all these years is the fear of how people would react.

She was especially worried that she would be treated with archaic ‘electric shock therapy’ for her natural urges.

Indeed, Patricia Davies - who was previously married as a man to a woman - says she has known she is a woman since the age of three.

She came out to doctors finally last year - who changed her medical records to ‘female’.

Patricia - who served in the Far East, India, East Africa and Palestine - says she revealed all to her late wife about her feelings in 1987 - who also accepted it.

The couple were married for 63 years and the then Peter's wife even bought her jewellery and dresses to wear in secret.

(Image: Mikey Jones/Mercury Press)

But Patricia says she remained living as Peter after receiving abuse from people in the street.

The OAP now feels like she has a new lease of life after beginning to take the feminising hormone oestrogen and dressing and acting like a woman.

Patricia - who served in the army between April 1945-1948 - has even now had the courage to reveal her secret to her neighbours.

The retired industrial photographer has a distant aunt who once lived to 104-years-old so hopes she has 'similar genes' to keep her going so she can now enjoy life as a woman.

Patricia, who lives in a village in Leicestershire, said: "It feels like a weight has been lifted off my shoulders. I was living a lie.

"I have been keeping quiet. I have slowly started to tell some of my neighbours. Everybody said 'don't worry, as long as you're happy'.

"I've known I was transgender since I was three-years-old. I knew a girl called Patricia and I decided I wanted to be known by that name but it didn't stick.

(Image: Mikey Jones/Mercury Press)

"From about the age of four I didn't want to play with girls' toys. I didn't want toy soldiers. I wanted an ironing board.

"My mother seemed to go along with it. We went to see Peter Pan and I wanted to be a fairy. She made me a wand. She didn't say it was strange.

"I have always been attracted to women but not in a sexual way. I'm not gay. My attraction to women was that I wanted to be like them.

"I would have liked to be like the pin-ups.

"I was never totally unhappy. I always made the most of things and looked on the bright side of things. I've always had a wicked sense of humour.

"The atmosphere [around being transgender] was not safe. People did not understand what transgender was.

"Really even the medical profession didn't understand it as the treatment was to give you the 'electric shock treatment'.

(Image: Mikey Jones/Mercury Press)

"They thought they could make you better. They didn't realise it was something that you could not cure.

"Because of the general hostility of people I kept quiet. It wasn't until recently that I felt safe to come out and I felt an overwhelming desire that I wanted to break free. So I came out and I've not regretted it."

Patricia left the army in 1948 when she was 21 and got married only a few months later.

During her time in the armed forces, she served in the Far East, India, East Africa and Palestine.

Patricia said: "You took your life in your hands in the army. I lost a couple of mates and had a close shave myself.

"I had to keep my mouth shut about being transgender, you couldn't flaunt that as that would have been a disaster.

"Transgender wasn't really known in those days. I would have been classed as homosexual, which would have caused problems in the army. I would have ended up in prison. But I got through it.

"But it was alright overall and I feel quite proud having served during the war and having done military service, in particular during the trouble in Palestine.

"Perhaps Hitler got news I had joined in April 1945 and gave up. That's what I like to think."

(Image: Mikey Jones/Mercury Press)

Patricia was married to her wife for 63 years but she sadly passed away six years ago. The OAP decided to admit everything to her doctor last year.

The 90-year-old has since been put on hormones and the gender on her medical records has been changed to female.

Patricia said: "There was a TV show in the 70s about a man that wanted to dress as a woman and at that point I had never even heard the word 'transgender'.

"I looked it up and there it was and I knew I was transgender.

"I was 60 when it all came pouring out to my wife, she was very sympathetic and helped me all the way but we agreed to keep it quiet.

"She used to buy me jewellery and she would call me Patricia. I kept it a complete secret.

"When I first came out to my wife I started to wear female shoes, some teenagers spotted it and started hurling abuse.

"They used to often throw eggs at my windows too. They did it so much I had to get the police involved. But they have grown up and gone now thankfully.

(Image: Mikey Jones/Mercury Press)

"I also started to wear female tops. People thought I was weird and bonkers but I don't care.

"I feel quite relieved, quite happy. [The best thing about coming out] is being accept as a woman. That has been something I've wanted all of my life."

Since coming out last year, Patricia has become a member of The Beaumont Society, a support group for the transgender community as well as joining the Women's Institute.

It was the 2015 Television programme, Boy Meets Girl, which portrays transgender characters, that encouraged Patricia to make the change.

Patricia said: "It's not 100% safe now but it's much better than it was. People that I have told seem to be very accommodating and haven't thrown abuse at me.

"I joined the Women's Institute. I socialise with them and have a natter. I'm having a great time. I have a new lease on life.

"I'm known to pretty much all the old faces in the village. I'm quite content now and I wear a skirt and blouse. I don't wear any men's clothes any more.

"If people don't like what they see then I don't care but no one seems to be causing me any trouble. Nobody questions it though. Nobody seems to bat an eyelid, they accept me as I am.

"I've been made most welcome in the societies. I think people will benefit from being educated on this a bit more."