MUf-two Carol Butler is flying high after achieving her ambition of becoming an air hostess -- at the age of 57.

Mrs Butler had always dreamed of taking to the skies and flying around the world putting her French and German skills to good use.

But on meeting her now ex-husband Steve Butler she settled down when she married in 1968 and thought her air hostess dreams had flown out of the window.

Mrs Butler, of Holbeck Close, Horwich, had two children and worked for the next 35 years as a personal assistant and secretary.

But her burning desire to travel the world remained, and 12 months ago she decided to reply to a job advert for cabin crew.

Days later she got a letter which changed her life.

Mrs Butler said: "I didn't think I had much chance when I sent the application form back. It said that the minimum age was 19 but I thought there would have been a maximum age and I would have no chance.

"But I got a letter asking me to attend an interview in London, which was a massive confidence booster. After the interview BMI offered me a job, which has just changed everything in my life."

She began training as a cabin crew member in January, where she was put through her paces in a six week training programme.

In April she began her career with the airline, flying from Manchester Airport on transatlantic flights to Chicago, Washington and Toronto.

And in November she hopes to jet to the Caribbean, when the airline begins to fly to the exotic holiday destination.

Mrs Butler, who has two sons, Richard, aged 31, and 19-years-old Nicholas, was quick to dispel the image of her new job being a glorified "trolley-dolly".

She said: "People think that all we do is just push a trolley around and hand out food. The job is so much more than that. We are the face of BMI and have to look after the needs of all the passengers. We have to be trained to cope with any security situation which arises.

"It's been hard work and taken a lot of time to get used to. I've been getting back from flights extremely shattered but I absolutely love it. BMI have been absolutely fantastic to me, giving me this chance to do the job of my dreams."

A spokesman for BMI, said: "We are delighted that Carol has become part of the transatlantic cabin crew team. We appoint purely on the basis of an individual's skills, ability and experience -- it doesn't matter whether they're 25 or 55 - the most important thing is how they do the job."