A PLEA has been made for people to send birthday cards to a woman turning 107 years old.

Ruth Thomas will reach the landmark birthday on Thursday, February 17 - having lived through the Blitz, Spanish Flu and, of course, the covid pandemic.

Staff at the Lawns Nursing Home want to make the day extra special and are appealing for birthday cards from across Worcester and beyond.

Manager Melanie Dawson said: "Ruth does like a little bit of a fuss.

"She is a local girl and ran the swimming pool at the manor house in Kempsey.

"Lots of people from the local area will remember her from when her and her husband ran the swimming pool outside the Lawns.

"She came to use in 2014 when she was coming up to 100 and even through these last two years of covid has kept her smile.

"She has always been a happy lady and if you asked her the secret of a long life she would say it was her positive outlook.

"Ruth is so easy to look after and a bit of a stalwart, she is just an absolute darling and we think an awful lot of her.

"You don't live to 107 without having an interesting life.

"We will celebrate her birthday in style but we need as many cards as we can get.

"Ruth regularly has the Worcester News delivered and loves to keep up with what is going on.

"We will celebrate her birthday in style but we need as many cards as we can get."

Ruth has a daughter Gill in Portsmouth and a daughter in law Lynn Thomas who lives in Worcestershire.

Birthday cards can be sent to c/o Lifestyle & Wellbeing Team, The Lawns Nursing Home, 33 Main Road, Kempsey, Worcs. WR5 3NF.