SHE may have a birthday every year but this is only the second time in 84-year-old Irene Lane's life that it has fallen on Easter Sunday — and the first was the day she was born.

'I have thought about it a few times and wondered if I would ever get another birthday on Easter Sunday,' said Irene who moved from Somerset to the Abbeyfield home at Pilcher's Field, Crapstone ,just over a year ago.

'Someone said it would not be in 19-something and I forgot all about it. Then I found out it fell on Easter Sunday this year when I saw the calendar.

'It is a bit of a novelty and a bit of fun,' she said.

The last time Easter Sunday fell on April 23 was in 1916, before that it was way back in 1848.

It is a birthday tradition at Pilcher's Field that housekeeper Sandra Abbott will prepare a favourite lunch.

'I'm going to ask for chicken because Sandra cooks a good chicken!' said Irene — she has also put in a special request for raspberries and cream for dessert.

It will be something of a double celebration because Sandra is also celebrating her birthday on April 23. But while it will be Irene's second Easter Sunday birthday it is Sandra's first.

'I will be celebrating by spending part of the day with my two daughters and three grandchildren,' said Sandra.

And she hopes to go one better than providing raspberries and cream for Irene. 'I will make her a home-made raspberry pavlova,' she said.

Yum, yum.