A Penhill grandmother whose 90th birthday celebrations had to be cancelled after the coronavirus lockdown said she was delighted after Morrisons staff surprised her with a birthday cake and balloons.

Retired Triumph machinist Irene Crisp, who has lived in the same Winsley Close home for six decades, received the unexpected birthday gift after her name was put forward to the Dorcan supermarket by Swindon Carers Centre.

“I can’t get over it,” she told the Adver.

“My daughter kept saying ‘hurry up, come downstairs’. I came down and I saw this lady at the door with her mask. I thought, what’s happened, what’s going on?”

The woman handed over a cake. “I couldn’t believe it. I said to my daughter: ‘Am I dreaming?’.”

As well as a huge Victoria sponge cake, staff at Morrisons handed over candles, balloons and bouquet of flowers and a card signed by everyone working at the store.

Daughter Lorraine Crook, 65, said: “She was overcome that strangers and the community could be so kind. Morrisons sent her a birthday card and everyone in the store had said happy birthday. I think she was overcome by that. It was just a lovely gesture.”

A fortnight earlier, carer Lorraine had replied to an email from Swindon Carers Centre saying staff at Morrisons supermarket were keen to help those being looked after at home during the lockdown with a little birthday boost.

“I said it was my mother’s birthday in two weeks and she’s 90,” she said.

At lunchtime on the woman’s 90th birthday two staff members turned up at the door with goodies.

The day before her mother’s birthday, Lorraine had subtly suggested she dress to expect visitors at the front gate wishing her a happy birthday.“That morning I went round to my mum’s house. The phone was going all the time. I was asking her to come downstairs. I had to hurry her. I saw the people from Morrisons knocking at the door with all this stuff. I said: ‘Quick, put on your lipstick.”

Despite a family meal and birthday party having to be cancelled due to the lockdown, it proved an eventful day for Irene. She enjoyed afternoon tea in the garden while a succession of friends and family members stopped off outside to wish her many happy returns.

The 90-year-old grandmother-of-one thanked Morrisons staff and others working through the pandemic. Irene, who lost her husband of 60 years, Victor, a decade ago, said. “I want to say thank you to everybody in our country who’s worked hard through this.”