Cenetarian unfazed by home demolition

A GREAT-grandmother who this week received a telegram from The Queen to mark her 100th birthday has been told her home is to be knocked down.

But Katharine Hurst said she remains undaunted by the prospect and says she is “not worried at all”.

Demolition is being carried out on behalf of Mid Suffolk District Council, which intends to complete the work by 2013 and demolition notices have been served on tenants.

The centenarian lives in one of the houses in Steeles Road, Woolpit, which face demolition.

But the 100-year-old said: “It will not be for another three years. I'm not worried about it at all.”

Her daughter Ursula Muskett said: “They are coming down and we have lost the site. All the people have been told they will have to leave their homes.

“By the time they get to my mother's house, it will be another three or four years. They are starting the work this year but I don't think it will affect my mother.”

On Tuesday, Mrs Hurst, who used to work as a maid and a chef in London, joined with friends and family to celebrate her milestone birthday.

Mrs Muskett said: “She is fine - she has her good days and bad days but on her birthday she was on a high. She is astute and aware.

“For her birthday we had a marquee. It was a surprise party and we asked all her friends and family along and there were lots of people from the village, including her doctor. Some of the people she had not seen for a very long time.”

Speaking about the demolition work, the area's district councillor Ramon Melvin said there was never an ideal time to redevelop homes but added: “At the end of the day we are going to have purpose-built housing.

“The existing houses have served their time and as a result of this we will have 13 or 14 more dwellings available. I know of no complaints about this.”