DAVENHAM: A KIND-HEARTED grandmother celebrated her 85th birthday by raising money for a children's charity.

Ann Kettle, of Mount Pleasant Road, Davenham, asked people to give her birthday money rather than presents - and then she gave the £300 raised to Children with Leukaemia.

Popular Ann who has lived in the village for 70 years welcomed more than 60 guests to the British Legion on Friday, August 15, although her actual birthday was on Monday 18.

Ann was born in Manchester but moved back with her mum, a Davenham woman, when she was 16.

She has one son, David Kettle, and three grandchildren: Brett, aged 14, Mitchell, aged seven, and Finley, aged three, who live on Pritchard Drive.

Daughter-in-law Carol said: "For her age she is still very active and helps look after the children sometimes.

"I think she chose Children with Leukaemia as the charity to receive her birthday donations because she likes children and makes annual donations to this charity."

Ann was one of the first female members of the Legion and her husband, Lewis, was one of the first male members.

Lewis was awarded the Burma Star after fighting in the Second World War and was buried with military honour when he died five years ago.

As a birthday treat Ann took the bus back to Manchester with a friend, also from her birthplace, to see the area where she grew up.