Margaret Baldwin will enjoy a 100th birthday bash with a difference tomorrow after a last minute discovery - she is a year too young.

The great-grandma from Brad-ford will have to put the champagne on ice for another 12 months after a mix-up over her date of birth.

And although she is not quite old enough for a telegram from the Queen, Bradford Lord Mayor Councillor Tony Cairns has agreed to stick to his promise and pay her a visit.

No-one knows how the mix-up happened, but Mrs Baldwin's medical records and pension book show her date of birth as February 25, 1898.

So when staff at Knowles Court Nursing Home contacted Buckingham Palace to request a telegram for her big day they were amazed to find that Margaret was actually born in 1899.

But, by that time they had already booked a visit by the city's Lord Mayor, organised a special party and ordered a 100th birthday cake.

Karen Robinson, junior sister at the nursing home in Holme Wood, said: "When we wrote off for a telegram Buckingham Palace suggested that we contact the office of National Statistics in Southport. They were able to confirm her date of birth as 1899. When we told Margaret she didn't really understand. It's a shame, so we have decided to go ahead with the celebrations anyway - 99 is a good age!"

Mrs Baldwin's daughter, Florence Barrett said she always suspected that she was only 98, but assumed that the date printed on her pension book was true.

The 73-year-old said: "I can't understand how it has happened. It is disappointing in one way, but in another it will be quite nice for her.

"It is good of the Lord Mayor to still pay her a visit, I am sure it will be a special day. It doesn't matter whether she is 100 or 99, we are all just so pleased that she is still with us."

The Lord Mayor said: 'This is the first time I can remember this happening. I'm just pleased I can help out - 99 is a great achievement anyway."

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