MANY people her age have a carer to help look after them - but 91-year-old Margaret Axtell has turned convention on its head by caring for her own daughter.

Margaret, of Tadcaster, has turned down offers of domiciliary help to care for 68-year-old Jenny, who uses a wheelchair after suffering from three strokes.

She cooks breakfast and lunch for her daughter, and does her cleaning, washing, dressing and assisted bathing.

Now the fiercely independent pair are looking forward to Mothering Sunday, when they will tuck into a special lunch together at Popple Well Springs Extra Care housing development, where they moved two years ago following Jenny's strokes.

Margaret said: "We have always got on well. The best thing about living here is that we are never lonely and I have the peace of mind that Jenny will be looked after by the on-site care and support team when I am no longer able to cope."

The pair lived together for several years in their own two-bedroom house in Tadcaster before moving to Popple Well Springs in Leeds Road, which is run by Hanover, one of the UK’s leading providers of affordable housing and services for the over 55s.

They said they were very happy in each other’s company and were able to do most things together, including attending table top sales on the estate.

Margaret said they were really looking forward to Sunday, when they will enjoy a prawn cocktail starter followed by a choice of salmon or roast pork.

"It will be a great chance for Jenny and I to sit down and reminisce about the good old days," she said.

"When Jenny used to come home from work, I would have dinner waiting on the table before we would spend the rest of the evening chatting."