THE woman thought to be Britain's oldest dinner lady was given a bunch of flowers by school pupils to celebrate her 80th birthday.

Jean Artt, a lunchtime supervisor at Middlesbrough’s Unity City Academy, has worked at Unity City Academy since the Academy opened in 2002 and previously worked at Langbaurgh Comprehensive, where she started working in January 1967.

The school believe she is the oldest dinner lady in Middlesbrough and possibly the UK.

Richard Harrison, Vice Principal said “Everyone in the Academy respects and listens to Jean. She knows almost every student and their family and is a lovely friendly person to have around the Academy everyday. It is amazing to see how well she is able to do her job and everyone is inspired by how she just gets on with the work expected.”

“Everyone wishes Jean the happiest birthday and we all look forward to celebrating many more with her in the future.”