A PENSIONER is using her 80th birthday to help her favourite charity.

Joan Phillips, of Durham City,who celebrates her birthday in November, has asked friends and relatives not to give her presents, but to make a donation to the British Heart Foundation (BHF).

Mrs Phillips chose the charity because her husband, Gilbert, 83, suffers from angina and her mother, 96, has heart problems.

She said: "I couldn't think of a better way to celebrate my birthday than supporting the work of the British Heart Foundation."

The BHF is asking others to follow Mrs Phillips' lead and join its Celebrate with BHF initiative.

Money raised from the campaign will go towards research into preventing heart problems and providing care.

A donation of £200 funds the work of a BHF junior research scientist for a day.

For more information, call 020-7487-9404.