He kept a corset on after the party, which seemed odd

wasn’t fair for me to stop that. I realised I loved the person not the gender.”

Zoey i s now having hormone replacement therapy and waiting to be referred to a gender identity clinic.

She said: “I can’t wait to look on the outside how I feel on the inside. I want to have surgery to become a woman.

Lucky

“I realised I was different when I hit puberty and would cry about my body. I didn’t want it to change.

“It took a lot longer to realise I was a woman trapped in a man’s body.

“I didn’t know anything about being trans and thought it was wrong so I didn’t want to address it.

“Then I met Kelly and fell in love and tried to hide that side of myself and those thoughts. I had bouts of depression but tried to push all those feelings aside. I couldn’t confide in n anyone but once I’d d dressed up for our ur party something changed ged in me. I thought this is was the chance to tell Kelly the truth and to be the real eal me me.

“I’m so lucky she still loves me – and the kids have been totally accepting.”

The couple told their children that daddy is now “Mummy Zoey” and would be dressing “just like mummy”.

Kelly said: “They accepted it straight away. Molly smiled and said “if that’s what makes her happy.”

One day Kelly saw George was upset and he told her he missed his dad.

She said: “But Zoey said, ‘He’s still there inside Mummy Zoey.’ I realised it was the truth. Warren hasn’t gone. He is just a she now called Zoey.”

Now Kelly and Zoey go shopping for c clothes together and s share make-up tips.

Zoey said: “I do feel vu vulnerable sometimes. It can be hard with people staring and pointing. I’m very er tall t ll and nd have red hair, so it’s hard to miss me. I avoid looking anyone in the eye and ignore men who go by jeering and shouting.

“Luckily the negative comments are less when we go out as a family, and my children are very protective.

“Once when people were laughing about me, Molly said: ‘Why are you being so mean? What has she done to you?’ They love me however I am.”

The couple are planning their wedding for as soon as Zoey has reassignment surgery, which could take three to four years. Zoey said: “We want to have a blessing and a big party for all our friends and family. I will wear a big gown and a small veil while Kelly still loves green. We’ll both be blushing brides.”

And Zoey insists their love life is better than ever. She said: “We’re so much closer and so we’re just as intimate but it’s more intense, as I don’t have to keep any secrets any more.

“Once I have the surgery we’ll have to find new ways to explore each other.”

Kelly is looking forward to their future together as woman and wife.

She said: “I love Zoey so much. She’s been so brave and I want everyone to accept her, just as I have.

“I’m glad that she’s told me the truth – becoming a woman is far better than her having an affair which is what I feared at the time.

“We’re still a happy family – and that’s all that matters.”