A WOMAN was overwhelmed after receiving hundreds of cards for her 100th birthday.

Care home staff urged as many people as possible to send well-wishing messages to Mary Johnson to celebrate her reaching the impressive milestone.

The Argus sent a card of its own and helped spread the appeal far and wide with a story on the subject, triggering an unprecedented response from kind-hearted strangers.

Carers at The Goldbridge Bupa Care Home in Haywards Heath decided to make the occasion a day to remember for the much-loved resident and put out a plea for as many birthday cards as possible.

General manager Karen Shrimpton said: “We know there’s a great sense of community spirit here in Haywards Heath so it would be amazing if we could pull together to make Mary’s birthday extra special.”

The day arrived and friends and family gathered at the care home for a day of revelry, with Mary receiving her card from the Queen.

She was also surprised when she was visited by several friends who she had not seen for many years.

But the biggest shock of all came when her bulging bag of post was dragged out.

Following the appeal, Mary had received more than 200 birthday cards which, when displayed, covered an entire wall of her room with several others being perched on every remaining surface.

Mary’s niece, Shirley Agate, said: “Mary was overwhelmed by all the cards she received from people, children even sent cards they had made themselves, it truly was very special and kind, so Mary would like to thank everyone who thought about her on her special birthday.”

The most recent figures show that there were 13,170 people aged 100 or above in the UK in 2018.

This marked a five per cent drop from the year before.

People celebrating their 100th birthday who are citizens of Commonwealth realms are sent a card from the Queen. The monarch also sends cards to those celebrating their 105th birthday, and every year after this as well.