Thamesmead cross-dresser Roxanne Yeatman is more determined than ever to become a woman after News Shopper featured her on the front page last week.

The transgender former soldier and prison inmate, 65, claimed she had three corsets and four suspender belts stolen by an alcoholic lodger.

Now she has caused quite a stir by demanding a £20,000 sex change operation on the NHS.

The father-of-four, who lives in Ricardo Path, says she needs the gender reassignment surgery as she was "born in the wrong body".

She said: "I need this operation to be who I want to be.

"I am just living day-to-day waiting for when I can get it done."

Formerly known as Doug, Roxanne has been taking female hormones for two years and having "feminisation" lessons.

These involve learning to walk, talk and act like a woman and experts at the Gender Identity Clinic at Charing Cross Hospital have told her to pitch her voice so she sounds like the singer Cher.

This Is Local London:

Doug Yeatman in his army days. 

She said: "They recommend listening to her to get your pitch right.

"It’s very difficult and it plays havoc with your throat but practice makes perfect."

The retired security guard joined the army at 16 and was a gunner in the Royal Artillery for three years before being dishonourably discharged in 1968 for theft.

She moved to London and admits falling in with the wrong crowd, leading to spells behind bars including a 28-month stretch at Wandsworth.

Now her only focus is on transforming her body and Roxanne hopes to get the go ahead from her consultant for the £15,000 operation – a £20,000 bill including drugs and counselling.

She said: "He needs to see how I get on to make sure my mind and body are ready because once it’s done there’s no turning back."

But any men who like what they see will be sorely disappointed if they come asking for a date.

Roxanne said: "I know I’m pretty but sorry fellas, I’m a lesbian."