AN elderly flower lover is now, officially, a rose by any other name - thanks to a friend.

Esther Ruth has been registered as the title for a strain of red rose with the International Rose Naming Registry, in London, the body responsible for personalising the many species of the flower.

It follows an application by Marjorie Wainwright, who felt it an ideal gift - given her old friend's life-long floral passion.

Mrs Wainwright kept the application a secret from her friend, but after receiving the confirmation, broke the news to a thrilled Mrs Ruth.

She handed her the registry's presentation box, containing the certification and seedlings of the rose at Mrs Ruth's home, in Gilesgate Moor, Durham, watched by her daughters, Jean and Hazel, who is on a visit home from California.

Other seeds have been given to a propagator to grow.

Mrs Wainwright, from Seaton Carew, near Hartlepool, is distantly related to Mrs Ruth through their husbands.

Mrs Wainwright said: "I always thought Esther Ruth' sounded biblical and would be an lovely name for a rose."

Mrs Ruth said: "I've always enjoyed gardening and, although I can't really do it now, I still like flowers and gardens."

Hazel hopes to return from California on her mother's 90th birthday, in October, to see her rose in bloom.