A NEWPORT woman celebrated her 107th birthday with champagne at her nursing home.

Gwen Phillips marked the occasion with a party at Danygraig Nursing Home in Chepstow Road on Saturday.

She asked her main nurse, Brigid Foley, to get her a new dress, straw hat and champagne for the celebrations and was joined by the home's staff and members of St Mary’s Roman Catholic Church in Stow Hill, which she used to attend.

She also received her seventh card from The Queen and was delighted to discover her party dress was the same colour as Her Majesty had on in the photo.

Ms Phillips, a former teacher and devout Catholic, used to be involved in fundraising for Catholic charities and is visited by Father John Kelly, from her former church, to take communion.

She has always lived in Newport and did not marry because she devoted her life to caring for her parents, who have passed away, so she is the only surviving member of her family.

Ms Foley said: “She enjoys life and is a very sweet lady but she’s also a strong character who knows her own mind. I adore her.”