Hospital staff are pulling out all the stops to make sure a grandmother with coronavirus can celebrate her 100th birthday.
Jessie Angel May, from Stockport, becomes a centenarian today (Friday).
But she is being forced to spend the day at Stepping Hill Hospital, where she is being treated having contracted COVID-19.
Jessie, who lives at Shepley House care home in Hazel Grove, was admitted last Wednesday (April 22).
Her loved ones say she has showed no major symptoms and has all but recovered.
Jessie can't return to the care home for 14 days as she poses an infection risk.
She is spending her birthday on ward D2 at Stepping Hill, where visitors are banned.
Staff are doing everything they can to make sure Jessie's big day is special.
The hospital's catering department will send her a cake - and medics will sing Happy Birthday to her.
Staff will also read her birthday cards to her and set up a call so Jessie, who has dementia and is registered blind, can hear the voices of her grandchildren Nadine and Eloise.
Nadine, 40, who herself works at the hospital, said: "It is sad that she's spending it in hospital as we've been talking about it and looking forward to it for so long.
"She had been saying we were going to have a big party. But the main thing is she's doing okay - she's in great hands.
"The staff have just been amazing.
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"They couldn't have done any more really.
"They've said they will make sure they make a fuss of her. When we she was first admitted we were worried, but she's just been great.
"We knew she would be really as she never gets ill. She's not had any major symptoms and she's ready to be discharged now."
Jessie's husband passed away 40 years ago - and her son Ray is stuck in Greece.
Nadine and Eloise are regular visitors and have been speaking to her through a window.
Jessie's telegram from the Queen has been delivered to her home and is ready for her to open when she returns.
Nadine added: "She's just an absolute legend. She loves dancing and having a drink, particularly whiskey. She's renowned for it and normally gets through a bottle a week.
"That's what we're putting her really quick recover down to!
"We just want to get her back home now so she can be with familiar faces and have a drink herself."
The Stockport NHS Foundation Trust which runs the hospital said on Twitter: "Happy 100th birthday to Jessie May Angel!
"Jessie is being treated on our Covid19 unit and sadly family can’t join her, but staff are helping her celebrate. Here she is weeks earlier with granddaughters Nadine and Eloise."
