She's hot... The blonde blacksmith

But blue-blooded blonde Lucy Sandys-Clarke has chosen to forge her career in the most unladylike of professions by becoming a blacksmith.

The attractive 29-year-old has taken over a traditional smithy in Cumbria after spending five years learning her trade.

Thanks to a grant from the Prince's Trust she set up on her own when her tutor moved out of the smithy last November and now works on a commission basis creating anything from metal-framed windows to intricate ornamental objects.

She is one of only a handful of full-time young, female blacksmiths in the country and without question the best connected. Her family is related to Viscount Churchill and her ancestors include five holders of the Victoria Cross.

However, Miss Sandys-Clarke is enjoying plying her trade in an ancient art more traditionally associated with barrel-chested macho men.

She said:"I wanted to be a furniture maker but while I was looking for a suitable course I met a blacksmith in Cumbria and it all started from there.

"I don't think it really makes a difference being female, I just think of myself as being a blacksmith.

"It was pretty terrifying taking over the smithy on my own but I am glad I decided to go into metal working over furniture making as it allows you to be much more fluid and creative, especially when working on ornamental items like door handles, which are my favourite things to make."

Miss Sandys-Clarke, of Sedbergh, Cumbria, said although she predominantly works for one customer she hopes to set up her own website soon to bring in work from a wider customer base.

Her career has allowed her to indulge in her fascination for history, and she uses many of the traditional techniques, such as burning coke in a hearth, rather than turning to new technology.

"My family and friends are quite intrigued by what I do and though it is hard work and the days are long, it's very rewarding," she said.

Nigel Barnett, Chairman of the British Artist Blacksmiths Association, said there were currently only about 20 female members out of more than 700.

"Despite our image we do have a few women now, many of them transfer over from jewellery making," he said.

"Blacksmiths are doing a lot more artistic work now and we are finding women as well as men doing that side of things.

"But obviously it is still male-dominated and it would be great to get a few more young women into the profession."

Although the work of a blacksmith has long been a male domain, there is historical evidence of woman doing the job in centuries past.

An ancient bible 'picture book' created in England during the early 14th Century includes a picture of a woman making nails at a forge.

She is hammering the pieces of iron into shape because the blacksmith has hurt his hand.

Perhaps the most remarkable female blacksmith of all was a Welsh woman called Llyn Padarn who wrestled men until she was in her 70s.

Born in 1696, she grew to be over 6ft tall and went on to run a pub where she entertained drinkers by playing the harp with her huge hands and she was also a skilled cobbler.