Big Responsibilities For Britain's Shortest Servicewoman

Britain's shortest servicewoman has joined the Royal Navy and will soon qualify for one of the world's most dangerous jobs. 

Laura Shann measures just 4.98ft (152cm) tall - 5mm above the minimum height for military personnel. 

The 24-year-old swapped her job as a garage receptionist last year to start training in the Royal Navy. 

Her instructors warned that her height would make it more difficult for her to pass the trainee Naval Airman course. 

But after 12 months gruelling training, Laura is preparing to officially qualify as a Naval Aircraft Handler. 

Laura, of Sleaford, Lincolnshire, is now believed to be the shortest servicewoman in the British military. She said:

"If you fail, you've just got to come back and do it again. Sometimes due to my height I have had to find different techniques. 

"I struggled with ladder drills at first, but because it is such a great team environment, all the lads chipped in to help me until I figured out how to work around it. 

"Weight was a bit of an issue too at first - at 25kgs, the hose was half my weight and the 'dummy' casualties we carry are 80kgs whilst we are wearing a 10 kg canister. 

"But I quickly found different ways of carrying, so my size was not an issue." 

Laura has been training at RNAS Culdrose in Helston, Cornwall. 

She added: "It's been a very high-tempo course. We do everything from fire-fighting and rescuing casualties, to driving tractors and moving aircraft on flight decks.

"You can't see anything in a fire, so you use all your senses. But you don't have time to be scared, you've got to be focused. 

"It is a real adrenaline rush. At the end of a day's training, you look back and think about it and you're like, woah, did I really just do that?"

Laura's training manager, Chief Petty Officer John Etherington, said he has been impressed with her "steely grit". He said:

"Naval Airman Shann has taken on every challenge set before her, and faced each one with steely grit and a desire to succeed. 

"In the face of adversity, she has overcome every obstacle with real strength of character. 

"For example, to improve her upper body strength, she took it on herself to speak to the Physical Trainers about strengthening exercises.

"She has had no preferential treatment - she has simply stuck at her training and worked hard. She deserves to be a Naval Airman." 

Laura and her fellow trainees will take part in a passing in a parade on Friday before joining the Aircraft Handlers branch.