A TENACIOUS Greenock woman who swapped aeroplanes for sewing machines wants to set up a tailored crafting course for young people across Inverclyde.

Angela Prabhu, who runs Make It! Inverclyde and Angel Images, is keen to kick-start a fashion academy for teenagers.

Qualified aircraft engineer and teacher Angela is setting up a 12-week course where young people can make their own clothes and take photographs of the garments.

Angela, 54, said the programme will also focus on positive body image and sustainability.

She added: "Young people will get the chance to take all their own measurements and make their own clothes, so there will be no focus on set sizes.

"We'll work together to create lovely garments that fit perfectly and it will be a very body-positive course."

Angela says her love for crafting started when she was a wee girl but she didn't get started properly until she was in her 30s.

She said: "We always had a sewing machine around the house when I was young and I watched my mum sewing all the time.

"My first proper project was making a wee dress for my niece and I just kept going after that."

Angela turned to teaching after qualifying as an aircraft engineer and lived down south years when she trained British Airways apprentices at Heathrow.

Although sewing, crochet and photography seems to be a departure from her original career choice, she says there are many similarities.

She added: "Elements of engineering use the same parts of the brain as crafting.

"They're both about measuring things, following patterns and constructing objects and both require you to look at something on a page, imagine it in 3D, and bring it to life."

Angela moved Inverclyde in 2000 and taught aviation at Nautical College for a few years.

The businesswoman started her photography business Angel Images in 2009 and got involved in local crafting group WEvolution in 2015.

She came up with the idea of running sewing classes through WEvolution and the idea grew from there into the Make It! Inverclyde craft academy.

She runs regular sessions and plans to bring in external tutors to pass on skills in crafts including needle felting and glass painting.

Angela said: "I love it when students finish whatever they're making and they're thrilled with the result

"The fact that I've helped them achieve that is so gratifying."

To get in touch with Angela email angelaprabhu@gmail.com