LIFE is full of surprises even at 90 for great-grandma Esther Rothwell.

Ten years after appearing as the Queen on Cilla Black's Surprise Surprise show the Bedford mother-of-six was starring again at a family knees-up in Leigh.

She was centre stage when relatives and friends from all over the country gathered at the Red Brick Inn to celebrate a cluster of birthdays and an anniversary which occur over just two days in February.

Esther, who lives in Severn Street, was given a surprise birthday party by 150 friends and relatives at the Twist Lane pub on Saturday -- a day that also marked her daughter Betty's 45th wedding anniversary and her sister Elsie's 82nd birthday.

Relatives had hoped Elsie Harrison would have been able to join guests on her birthday but after suffering a fall was unable to make it from her Worksop home.

Landlord of the Red Brick Inn, Esther's son-in-law Cliff Davies said Esther was very surprised: "You should have seen the look on her face when she came in, in her wheelchair."

Friends and family had come from Worksop, Kidderminster, London, Wolverhampton and further afield to join in the revelry.

Relatives and friends filled the pub and Esther received gifts of sherry, biscuits and bouquets of flowers.

Amazingly, three of her great-grandchildren Daniel, aged 15, Rachel, 11 and Ryan, two, were all born on her February 22 birthday.

Esther's daughter, Betty Morphet, said: "She was thrilled to bits when they were born on her birthday -- she loves children."

Westleigh-born Mrs Rothwell, a widow for over 30 years, is one of 11 children.

Mrs Morphet of Sandersons Croft, Leigh, added: "She does use a wheelchair and a walking frame, but her mind is wonderful, she tells stories about when she was little."

When Esther celebrated her 80th birthday she had an extra special surprise celebration.

Mrs Morphet said: "My sister Dorothy wrote to Cilla Black on 'Surprise, Surprise' asking if my Mum could be Queen for the day for her 80th birthday."

Esther, who is a keen horse racing fan, was given the red carpet treatment by the TV programme and was taken to Haydock Races by Bob Carolgees, a trip that was broadcast on the hit show.