IRENE Mills, East Lancashire's very own Queen Mum, celebrates her 101st birthday today -- a day ahead of her idol.

Irene -- known to friends and family as Rene -- said she has always felt honoured that she toasts her birthday so close to the Queen Mother.

While doctors advised the Queen Mother to abandon her hectic timetable for a few days after suffering from heat exhaustion and enduring a blood transfusion to correct her anaemia, Rene will be partying with friends and family at the home where she has been dubbed Queen Mum.

Rene's only surviving family member, niece Dorothy Russell, of Whalley New Road, Langho, said: "Rene is said to be the Queen Mum of the nursing home because she is the oldest there -- like a landmark in history!"

She has been at the Hazeldene Nursing Home, Ribchester Road, Wilpshire, for nearly two years after living in Blackburn for most of her life.

Dorothy added: "Rene is like the Queen Mother in lots of ways as they both have the same personality traits -- they are both extremely determined ladies and they both fight for what they want."

In addition, strong-willed Rene had a hip operation at the same time as the Queen Mother. Rene has also travelled a lot in her life and has visited most of Europe as well as touring the United States after she re-visited her former home in Canada.

Charlotte Ashby, nurse-in-charge at Hazeldene Nursing Home, said: "We will be having an party that will be one to remember for Rene.

"There will be lots of food, flowers and presents to help make her day extra special.

"Rene is a joy to know and she is an amazing woman and I am absolutely sure anybody who knows her would say the same thing."

Rene was born in Canada on August 3, 1900, and moved to England with her parents Alfred and Louisa, older sister Lily and older brother Clifton when she was just two years old.