A SELFLESS spinster enjoyed a double celebration today (Friday) when she received a long-awaited war medal on her 100th birthday.

Ivy Evans, of Blake Hall Road, Wanstead, was joined at her hospital bedside on Friday by friends celebrating her birthday and MP Harry Cohen, who dropped in to present her with a Civil Defence Medal.

Miss Evans, who cared for her mother for most of her life after her father went missing in action during the First World War, was first told she would receive the medal during the blitz in World War Two.

Family friend Susan Head, 54, said: "Ivy did voluntary work with the Red Cross and after she came home from working for the Civil Service during the day, she would make her mum's tea, then go out helping look after people sheltering from the air raids in the London Underground tube stations, applying bandages and TLC.

"Ivy received a post card saying she had been awarded the Civil Defence Medal and she was sent the ribbon on which the medal would hang, and the card said she would get a second letter saying when and where the medal would be awarded.

"Ivy and her family were however bombed and had to moved on, and the second notification never reached her."

After her mother died at the age of 90, Miss Evans, who never married or had any children, went on to look after her best friend Edna, who passed away in 1997.

She was then on her own the first time in her life, before Mrs Head and her mother took it upon themselves to "adopt" her.

Miss Evans has been in Wanstead Hospital since February following a number of falls.

Mrs Head said: “I contacted the MOD earlier this year, and they put me in touch with the Cabinet Office and they traced the record of the award and arranged for the medal to be issued.”

"Ivy is a very kind hearted and cheerful lady, who really appreciates everything that is done for her, and Mum and I were really pleased when Harry Cohen said he would be willing to present her with the medal on her 100th birthday."