SIPPING champagne, she mingled with VIPs on the lawn of Buckingham Palace.

Nursery nurse Dot Grundy couldn't believe she had been invited to a royal garden party.

She said: "I thought the girls here had done it for a joke! It was an experience I'll never forget."

Dot and her husband, John, travelled to London in a limousine with Halton's Mayor and Mayoress, Cllr Ron and Pauline Hignett.

She was invited by Graham Talbot, Halton's education director in recognition of her 28 years service as a nursery nurse.

"The Queen came out to a fanfare and we could see her quite clearly with Prince Andrew and Prince Charles," said Dot, of Glencourse Road, Widnes.

"It was a very hot day but all the food and drink was really fresh and cool.

"The cakes were the tastiest I've ever had."

Dot dressed up in her outfit for her pupils at Birchfield Nursery School and treated them to a tea party to celebrate her royal engagement.

"They said I looked very pretty, like a real lady," said Dot.

"The funniest thing was that they thought John and I were going for tea with the Queen - just the two of us!"