Despite being born a boy, Mel Cherriman always knew she would grow into a woman.

As a five-year-old she remembers being confused by her body, unable to grasp what it was that made her feel so different.

As she grew into adolescence, Mel began to realise she was a transsexual. Unable to fully accept the reality of her existence she immersed herself in manhood, desperate to prove she was just like everyone else.

She played sport and joined the Scouts and later even got married. But she knew she was living a lie and soon fell into depression.

Three years ago, denying who she was became too much of a burden and Mel confessed to her wife that she wanted to become a woman.

Today, seven weeks after having a sex-change operation, she now lives as a woman - and despite the odds, her marriage has survived.

But with the Government set to announce legislation enabling the birth certificates of transsexuals to be changed, Mel and her wife's lives could be dramatically changed.

The move from ministers has been prompted by the European Court of Human Rights, which ruled in July that binding a transsexual to the gender they are given at birth is a violation of their right to a private and family life.

If the law is changed, transsexuals will be able to marry in their adopted sex for the first time - a move widely welcomed by the transsexual community.

For Mel and her wife, however, it could have the reverse effect of annulling their marriage.

Mel, 41, said: "In general I think what is being proposed is wonderful. I see it as a validation of who I am. I have always known I am a woman - it has never been a choice I had to make."

But Mel, from Adur, admits the laws may have an adverse effect on her life.

She said: "We will have to wait and see the details of this legislation. We potentially face problems though, as I may be faced with the decision of changing my birth certificate and not remaining married - or remaining married and not changing my birth certificate.

"I will have to discuss that with my wife when the issue arises."

Persia West, who is also a transsexual, sees the proposed changes as an acceptance of who she is.

Persia came out as a transsexual about 10 years ago, having previously been married. She has a 20-year-old son, Rowan, who has fully accepted her change.

She said: "It is ridiculous that in every way other than what is written on that piece of paper, I am a woman.

"I'm not just a bloke in a frock and this change in the law would acknowledge that.

"At long last, it would be an acceptance that we exist. Essentially, there is no reason why I should not be treated equal to other women."

Persia, 44, from Brighton, has no wish to get married but she does not know what the future may hold.

If she chose to live with a man, she would have no legal recognition as his partner. She would not have any rights to his pension or be identified as his next of kin.

She said: "This change will not effect my day-to-day life but it will give me greater general privacy. I went to Nice with a man recently and we hired a car. I filled in my details as the second driver, as a female.

"Then it hit me that I would be making a false declaration, as I am legally still a man.

"Would the insurance cover me? What should I do? Divulge my medical history in the middle of a crowded airport and open myself up to abuse? I am not willing to do that.

"That is why the ruling in the European Court of Human Rights is such a big step, because it acknowledges our right to privacy and equality. I should not have to discuss the intimate details of my life with strangers."

Despite their personal battles in coping with their identities, Mel and Persia have both taken on public roles.

Mel is chairwoman of the Clare Project in Hove, a self-help group for people with gender issues. Persia is a manager at Brighton's Gender Trust, which supports transsexuals and is also a trustee at Spectrum, which brings together all lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender groups in the city.

Persia said: "It would have been easy for me to just vanish once I came out but I am not willing to do that.

"I have made the decision to discuss who I am openly, because this issue is too important not to be on the agenda."