A LEYTON youth group is set to celebrate its 90th birthday.

The First Leyton Girls Brigade, which is aimed at girls aged four and up, is run from the United Reform Church in Grange Park Road and began life in 1919.

Wendy Gray, a pre-school manager, who is the leader of the group, or 'captain of the company', said: “It's a Christian organisation but we also do badge work like most youth groups.

“There's an educational badge, a service badge and a physical badge.”

The group will be celebrating its birthday on October 3 with a reunion at the church for some of the oldest surviving former members.

Mrs Gray, 45, of Capworth Street, said: “Hopefully, we'll get people that used to be in the company that have moved out of the borough.

“We'll have an afternoon tea for them and this year I'm hoping some of the younger generation are going to join us as well.

“We've got members who still attend the church and one of them is 77.”

Mrs Gray has been involved with the group for the last 14 years, after her daughter Lydia, now 19, joined at the age of five.

The group meets once a week and as well as craft and games, the sessions also include bible study.