FAMILY and friends who had planned a special surprise for great-grandmother Emily Bradley were forced to celebrate her 100th birthday by her hospital bed yesterday as she recovered from a fall.

But staff on ward D1 at Queen's Park Hospital, Blackburn, helped make it a day to remember with a party.

Mrs Bradley, a retired dressmaker who lives in Blackburn, was joined by members of her family, which includes son Geoffrey, five grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.

Granddaughter Barbara Kay, said: "We were planning a special celebration but that will have to wait until she is out. We enjoyed a family get-together, thanks to staff on the ward.

"Grandma has always enjoyed spending time with her family as well as going to Lemmington Road Church. She says the secret to such a long life is contentment, family and the church."

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