A FEMALE engineer has made history by becoming the first woman to be promoted to the top job at P&O cruises.

Leanne Robertson, 31, from Alexandria, in West Dunbartonshire, is the new first engineer, a rank that no female has previously achieved in the cruise line’s history.

She said: “I’m incredibly proud to be P&O Cruises’ first female engineer and hope that my success will inspire and motivate other women to achieve their dreams.

“It just goes to show that if you study and work hard, you can succeed, even in a career such as engineering that is traditionally male dominated.

Paul Ludlow, P&O Cruises senior vice president, added: “This is such an important milestone in our company’s history.”