OPERATORS of Ledbury Community Hospital are preparing to celebrate its first anniversary.

But one of the first residents at the hospital's att-ached nursing home has beaten them to it, Muriel Watkins reaching 101 on Friday.

Hospital operators Shaw Homes will mark the first anniversary with an open day with conducted tours on Saturday, April 5, from 10.30am to 3pm.

Facilities manager Graham Roberts said he was expecting a lot of interest.

He said: "Members of the public have been ringing up, asking us if it is going ahead.

"We will do our level best to show as many facets of the building as we can."

The final format of the open day will not be settled until a meeting on Tuesday, but its is likely that face painting and balloons will be laid on for children. Tea and biscuits will be offered free of charge to visitors.

Mr Roberts said many residents of Ledbury attend the Market Surgery and not St Katherine's Surgery, and so may not have even set foot in the new hospital so far.

Mrs Watkins' birthday was celebrated with a slice of cake and glass of sherry.

She was joined by her son, Alan and her sister-in-law, Dorothy, who said: "There was no card from the Queen this time. Apparently, you don't get another until you are 105. But Mum had a happy time, and thoroughly enjoyed herself."

Mrs Watkins will be known to more senior residents as a former baker in Ashperton.

When she was widowed in 1939, she carried on her husband Leslie's business, as one of two village bakers, until her retirement in 1952.

Mrs Watkins is believed to be the first long-term resident of Ashperton to reach the grand age of 100.