SISTERS who have together totted up almost 200 years got a rare chance to chat at a very special celebration.

Muriel George's 103rd birthday at Malvern's Mowbray Nursing Home was the first time in two years that she had seen her 'younger' sister Vera Smith, 95.

Vera, who lives at the Hastings residential home in Barnards Green, was able to come over and spend the day.

Muriel celebrated her birthday with a cake and was surrounded by flowers.

She also passed on her tips for a long life - good, sober living. She has never smoked or drunk alcohol.

Muriel was born in St John's, Worcester, in 1902 where she grew up with her mum and dad, two brothers and younger sister until tragedy struck the family when she was nine-years-old.

Her father was killed in a bike accident and the family later split up. Muriel was sent to live at an orphanage in Wolverhampton where she remained until she was 16.

The boys and girls were segregated at the orphanage, only seeing each other in church on Sundays. Even then, they were not allowed to speak, she remembers.

Muriel went to work for Worcestershire County Council when she left school and was at Shire Hall in Worcester until she retired.

She never married and spent many years caring for her mother.

Muriel, who says she is a big fan of the Royal family, moved to Malvern a few years ago and has lived at Mowbray Nursing Home since last year.