An embroidery enthusiast who is as old as powered flight is due to celebrate her 103rd birthday today.

Ivy Wade, who lives at Norton Hall Nursing Home, in Norton, near Worcester will tuck in to cream cakes and chocolate eclairs in the company of her friends.

Miss Wade, who never married, still enjoys crafts, especially needlework.

Care manager Sally Carter said: "We're just having a small party.

"I asked her what she wanted on the day and she said whatever other people want. That's what she's like.

"We'll have some chocolate eclairs and cream cakes as well as a birthday cake."

Miss Wade was one of six children and spent her early life caring for her family as her mother was blind.

She has lived in London and Weston-Super-Mare and moved to Norton, near Worcester, 11 years ago.

In 1903, the year she was born, the Wright brothers' made aviation history with their first flight, Marie Curie won the Nobel Prize for physics for her work with the element radium and the first ever Tour de France took place.

It was also the year that author George Orwell and singer Bing Crosby were both born.