A DEDICATED Christmas shopper from North Yorkshire has been hailed as the country’s most generous granny, because she still buys individual presents for more than 200 relatives.

Edith Abbey, 90, from Norton, starts her shopping mission every October to make sure she can scout out gifts to suit the tastes of her 14 remaining children, 85 grandchildren, 40 great grandchildren, 20 great-great grandchildren – and their partners.

Daughter Kathy Cooper, 63, helps her kind-hearted mum as her age means she would be unable to complete the task alone. The pensioner spends between £500 and £800 each year.

Mrs Cooper said: “We don’t do it all at once; we will go out for a couple of hours here and there.

“She likes to do things properly so it’s no quick job. She’s a very strong lady and she’s always done her best for all us.”

Mrs Abbey, is only 4ft tall and needs a wheelchair to get around, shells out for watches, aftershave, boxes of biscuits and other treats for her family and makes sure none are left out.

Mrs Abbey said: “I try to keep up with all the people, but it is a bit of a job. I don’t spend a fortune as it is the thought that counts.

“Although it was difficult when they were all growing up, I am grateful for all the children and the others. I enjoy the fact I have such a large family.”

Mrs Cooper, who lives near her mum with husband John, 64, said: “She must be the country’s most generous grandma. I think she still makes the effort because she likes embracing the Christmas spirit of giving.

“She is quite reserved, but you can tell she gets great pleasure from seeing the look on the kids faces when they open the presents.”

Mrs Cooper said she helps her mum wrap the mountain of presents, which can’t all fit in her small flat. She said: “It takes a good couple of days to wrap them all. I daren’t guess how many rolls of paper and sticky tape we get through, but it’s a lot. Once they’re wrapped I have to take most of them to our house because her flat isn’t big enough. Then family members come to visit her and she gradually gives them out. The whole family really appreciate what she does. It really embodies what Christmas should be about.”