SPRIGHTLY pensioner Anne Thompson has got the key of the door - at the age of 84.

Anne is one of those leap year babies born on February 29 whose "official" birthday only come around once every four years.

So although she is 84 years old today - born on February 29 1916 - she has had to wait until the year 2000 to officially celebrate her 21st birthday.

Anne is a popular member of Accrington Road Community Centre's over 60s friendship club in Blackburn and all her pals got together to buy her a coming of age birthday card.

Pauline Taylor, who helps run the club, said: "Anne has been coming to this club for a long time and really gets into the swing of things. She is on the committee and collects the door money for the club so everybody knows her.

"The club meets every week and Anne is really popular so we decided to get her a card and have a bit of party for her big day."

Anne is pictured receiving a 21st birthday card from club president Derrick Metcalfe and other friends at Accrington Road Friendship Club.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.