Frances, 104, defied doctors to live amazing life

But she went on to defy all the odds – having two daughters and pursuing her love of ballroom dancing until the age of 94.

She has even travelled around the world twice and used to visit Scotland and the Isle of Man with her late husband every year.

Now 104, Mrs Wilkinson's family says she is still 'sharp as a needle'.

And her daughter today revealed her mother's secret to a long life – a love of good food, no smoking and no drinking.

Jeanette Clarke, one of Mrs Wilkinson's two daughters, said: "She is doing remarkably well. She's a very determined lady.

"You would never think she was 104. Her brain is as sharp as a needle."

Mrs Wilkinson was born Frances Selina Hampton in 1910 at her parents' home in Myrtle Street, Bilston.

Her mother worked as a teacher and her father served in the First World War as a Cook Sergeant with the Staffordshire Regiment.

After leaving school, Mrs Wilkinson went to work for outfitters Bedford Williams, which was based in Victoria Street, Wolverhampton, making ladies' hats in the millinery department.

It was during her time with the company that, at the age of 21, she was struck with rheumatic fever, a serious condition affecting her heart and which left her unable to walk and confined to a wheelchair.

Mrs Clarke, aged 75, who lives in Perton, said: "They said she would never properly walk again but she was determined she was going to.

"She was an only child but a very determined woman. She still is."

Mrs Clarke added: "She was told that she should never marry or have kids or work because it would have an effect on her heart – and look where she is now."

After two years of regular treatment at the brine baths in Buxton, Mrs Wilkinson was able to walk again and her mobility improved gradually from then on.

"Eventually, over time, she started to walk and got her strength back," said Mrs Clarke.

"She started to walk and with exercise they got her mobile and then I think it was sheer determination on her behalf."

She soon met her husband-to-be, Frank Wilkinson, who died in 1973, aged 65.

She and a friend had been cycling near to a spot where he and one of his friends had been camping when one of their tyres was punctured, so the two men fixed it for them.

The happy couple put off their wedding for five years until Mrs Wilkinson was fully back to strength, so that she would be able to walk down the aisle.

They were married at Holy Trinity Church in Ettingshall on December 27, 1937, when Mr Wilkinson was aged 30 and his bride was 26.

After that, Mr Wilkinson's job in aircraft manufacturing took them to Liverpool, where they had their first child, Mrs Clarke.

During the Second World War, they had to move house six times in two years to avoid bombings, also living in Coventry and Seisdon before settling in Veronica Avenue, in the Parkfields area of Wolverhampton, where Mrs Wilkinson gave birth to daughter, Carol.

After around 20 years on the mend, when her two children were old enough for work, Mrs Wilkinson joined the Woolworths store in Victoria Street, Wolverhampton, working on the checkouts.

She climbed her way up over more than two decades to become a supervisor and buyer, before retiring aged 64.

Mrs Clarke said: "She used to be responsible for buying in sweets, cakes, groceries, biscuits and ice cream. She loved it.

"It used to be the joke after I was married with children that we would have to go and buy the broken biscuits.

"She shouldn't really have done it, but one day the children said there weren't any on the shelves so she went and broke a few."

As a young girl, Mrs Wilkinson had been a keen dancer, practising ballet and tap, which made her disability all the more devastating for her.

But after her recovery she was able to pursue her passion again – and only stopped ballroom dancing 10 years ago, after suffering a mild stroke.

Mrs Clarke said: "Up until then she was still getting the bus with her friends in Sedgley to go to the shops.

"She used to go dancing every week and she has been around the world twice. She loves to travel."

Her husband refused to fly, so she used to travel abroad with friends.

With Mr Wilkinson, she also used to travel every year to watch the Isle of Man Tourist Trophy (TT) motorbike races and the pair took annual trips to Scotland in their MG Midget sports car.

Mrs Wilkinson has also been to visit her second-born daughter Carol, who now lives in New Zealand, five times, most recently at the age of 89.

As well as her two daughters, Mrs Wilkinson has seven grandchildren, 12 great grandchildren and three great-great grandchildren, with two more due in October.

She recently celebrated her 104th birthday, surrounded by her family.

Friends and fellow residents also gathered at Corsers Court sheltered housing complex in Waveney Avenue, Perton, to help Mrs Wilkinson celebrate the milestone.

Her party also included entertainment by a cruise ship singer, with some of the residents of the sheltered housing complex joining her for a dance.