WHILE birthdays may come around every year, this week’s celebration for identical twins Florence Boycott and Ann Brown feels much more monumental - as the pair defied all odds to reach 101 years old.

The oldest identical twins are Japan’s Umeno Sumiyama and Koume Kodama, who received the title from the Guinness World Records on their 107th birthday in 2021.

Firs Residential Home in Dodworth residents Florence and Ann are hot on their heels, as they overcame the 700 million to one odds to reach their age.

Staff at the home invited family and friends for a party to celebrate the incredible achievement on Saturday.

Florence’s daughter, 79-year-old Kath Lindsay from Pogmoor, told the Chronicle: “They enjoyed it

“There was a singer on so the ones who could stand got up and were dancing.

“It was a really nice day.

“They’re keeping well - they’ve both got dementia and my mum’s got arthritis, but physically they’re not bad at all.

“The only thing is they sleep a lot, but who wouldn’t at that age.”

Born on Stocks Lane in 1923 and part of a family of ten - five brothers and five sisters - the pair have lived through three monarchs, World War Two, 21 different Prime Ministers and to the envy of many even England’s World Cup win in 1966.

“It’s just a big thing to celebrate,” Kath added.

“I mean who else can say they’ve had their mother for 79 years?”

When asked if she thinks there’s a secret to their long life, Kath complimented her relatives’ strong work ethic.

“They’ve both worked very hard.

“They’ve always worked - my auntie was still working for half a day at a sewing stall in the market when she was 94.”