A birthday cake with 107 candles is in order for Marie Chilcott, who will be celebrating the milestone occasion with family on Sunday.

The team of carers who help look after Mrs Chilcott from Dilton Marsh, near Westbury, are full of admiration for the pensioner, who lives with her daughter Christine and son John.

Carer Tracey Pinnell said: “When I came here and I was told how old Marie was I was really honored to meet her. I think she is such a remarkable lady and she is just so special.

“When I said to her ‘it’s your birthday on Sunday do you know how old you are going to be’, she looked at me and I said ‘you’re going to be 107’, and she just burst out laughing and went ‘No, no, no, no’: she just can’t believe it.”

Mrs Chilcott was born in Holland and came to live in London in 1932 as a student.

On her certificate of registration she was given the status of ‘alien’, which was given to everyone who came to the capital between 1918-1957.

“She’s an alien who has added a great deal of love and care and wisdom to the British,” said her daughter Christine.

“She’s been brilliant, very caring. She always saw the funny, bright, side of things and there was always a lot of laughter in the house.”

Mrs Chilcott has three children, Christine, John and Pauline, four grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. She met her husband, poultry farmer Cecil Chilcott, in Hereford and remained there until he died, aged 76.

In her younger days Mrs Chilcott was passionate about dancing, particularly the waltz, and her tales of her dates have been passed on to her carers.

Stephanie Hickman said: “She apparently rejected three suitors because they couldn’t dance.

“The men took her fancy and she got to know them and went on dates with them, but they couldn’t dance so she sacked them.

“Cecil couldn’t dance but she forgave him because she liked him.

“She likes to give you advice, the last wedding I went to I came here for lunch and ended up spending an extra 20 minutes because she was telling me how I should style my hair.”