FOUR generations of a York family will celebrate Mothering Sunday this weekend – aware they only exist thanks to the remarkable survival of a fifth generation.

EdithTodd was born a twin in the Heslington Road area of York in 1898, weighing only 2.5 lbs.

One of her grand-daughters, Suzy Brown, said that with no special care baby unit available in those days to treat such small babies, Edith's twin brother died.

"There was not much hope for Edith and they kept the coffin open for a week, waiting for her to die, so they could be buried together," said Suzy, 65, of Dunnington.

"But she not only survived but went on to marry Gus White and produce seven children, all of whom are still alive today, and she has a total of 94 descendants so far, including five sets of twins - that's 19 grandchildren, 33 great-grandchildren and 35 great-great-grandchildren."

Suzy said Edith's children, Gordon, Muriel, Betty Ann, Maureen, Joan, George and James, are now aged from 76 to 91.

"My mother Muriel, who lives in Clifton and is aged 88, had two children - me and my sister Jan. I had a son and a daughter Charlotte, who lives in Pocklington, and she has had three children, Oliver, who is five, and Daisy and and her twin brother William, who are four."

Suzy said she only found out about her grandmother's survival after she started researching her family history about five years ago.

"What struck me as amazing was that she only just survived but all of her seven children are still alive, 116 years later."

She said all four generations in her family would be getting together this weekend to celebrate Mothering Sunday, as they did every year.