Leona Thompson wasn’t going to let a hospital visit get in the way of celebrating her birthday.

Taken ill the day before she celebrated being aged 104, she told doctors, ’look, I want to go home, it’s my birthday’.

Reggie Simons, Ms Thompson’s 79-year-old nephew, said his aunt was fine after the hospital visit and was keen on celebrating at her St George’s home.

He added: “She told the doctors, ’look, I want to go home, it’s my birthday’ so they let her out.

“Her problem wasn’t bad, it was just a little discomfort from her medication.”

Ms Thompson celebrated her birthday on Sunday with cake and well wishes and was joined by Mr Simons and his wife.

Mr Simons said his aunt received about seven bouquets of flower from close friends, as well as countless phone calls and birthday cards from friends in the United States.

He explained that she spent her life working as a housekeeper and a tour guide for St Peter’s Church, in St George’s, which left her with many friends who still kept in contact.

He said that, despite her age, his aunt was still very sprightly and had the same outgoing personality and flair for fashion she had in her youth.

Mr Simons added: “On the day we took her to the hospital she said she wouldn’t go anywhere unless she had a top to match the pants and that she wanted to put her jewellery on.

“I told her ’you’re going to the hospital, you’re not going to meet anybody’ – but that’s the type of person she is.”