Stars wish Ivy a very happy 90th

Great-grandmother Ivy Stone, who has dedicated her life to fundraising for charities, expected a few cards from family and friends on her 90th birthday.

But Ivy, from Penkridge, was left speechless when 89 personally signed congratulatory birthday cards from some of the nation's top celebrities were pushed through her letterbox.

The names included Sir Cliff Richard, Jamie Oliver, Twiggy, Joanna Lumley, Tony Blair and Prime Minister Gordon Brown.

TV presenter Eamonn Holmes sent a signed copy of his autobiography.

The only name missing from the list was Tory leader David Cameron, who failed to reply.

Ivy is a Wolves and Manchester United fan, and among the cards were ones from Wolves manager Mick McCarthy, Sir Bobby Charlton and Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson.

All thanked her for her charity work which has seen her raise tens of thousands of pounds over a period of 78 years.

It all became possible after her daughter Irene decided to write to the celebrities asking them to acknowledge her 90th birthday and all the hard fundraising she has done over the years.

Ivy said: "I just couldn't believe it when I saw all these cards.

My favourite is Daniel O'Donnell. He is a bit of a heart-throb, and he sent me his latest DVD."

Ivy, who has 12 grandchildren and 25 great-grandchildren, started fundraising at the age of 12 in Burton upon Trent where she joined the League Of Little Kindness which helped out needy people in the community.

She met her husband Syd-ney while working on a farm in Branston, Burton. He died 25 years ago, and since then her fundraising efforts have become even greater.

She went to live in Penkridge 45 years ago and spent years raising money as part of the Penkridge Goodies. For the past 19 years she has helped to raise funds for the local Air Ambulance.

Her son Les Stone, 63, said: "My mother deserves to have this acknowledgement for all she has done for charity over the years."