Leap Day: Great-great grandmother celebrates her '25th birthday'

A great-great grandmother is turning 100 today - but will also be celebrating her 25th leap year birthday.

It's Doris Cleife's birthday on this day of 29 February and she is having an extra special party thrown for her because it will be only the 25th time in her lifetime that she will be able to celebrate the occasion on her actual birth date.

"I've waited all my life to be famous and now it happens like this," she said.

Staff at her care home - Brunel Court in Portsmouth, Hampshire - have organised the bash for Mrs Cleife.

Fellow residents, friends and local dignitaries have been invited to attend.

The retired hairdresser, whose husband Sam died in 1979, will then continue the celebrations with her family.

She said: "I never dreamed I would get this far - I lost my mother when she was quite young and my granny died when she was 47 but here we are, and I have a sister who is 98."

When asked how it feels to only have had 25 birthdays, she said: "I don't feel any different.

"I wouldn't want all the fuss but the family have been talking about it for goodness how long, and I had a letter from one of my great grandchildren who was seven, he said at the end of the letter 'does the Queen know your address?'."

She said: "I am waiting for my letter from the Queen.

"To be honest, I am feeling quite philosophical about becoming 100, but I am looking forward to spending time with my new friends and my family."

And the secret to her longevity? She says it is all down to eating well and walking whenever she could.

"I have always worked hard, but I did a lot of walking, and I think walking is good for you, it keeps you fit, well at least it did me," she added.

Mrs Cleife moved into her independent accommodation last year, having lived with her daughter and son-in-law for the past 40 years until her daughter died in May.

Doris' granddaughter Rachel Bowen said: "We are so proud of nan and she is thrilled to be celebrating such a significant milestone with her friends and family.

"Last year was very hard but we want to celebrate this amazing day and an amazing woman.

"She has been pulling our legs for months now saying she can't wait until her 25th birthday."

Mrs Cleife has two grandchildren, Rachel and David; three great grandchildren, Kirsty, Sammy and Isla; and two great-great grandchildren, Tilly and Thea.