Not many women get their birthday cake and kiss delivered by a firefighter on a 45ft ladder - though many would probably pay for the privilege.

But then, few 80th birthdays have been celebrated quite like Gladys Jones's.

The firefighters of Preston Circus fire station in Brighton jumped at the chance to pull out all the stops for special guest Gladys.

They formed a line of honour to welcome her as she returned for the first time since serving there for most of the Second World War.

The visit was a surprise birthday treat organised by her husband Geoffrey.

The grandmother of four was in her element as she relived the days of her National Service, most of which was spent in the station's control room, dispatching engines to fires from Brighton to Shoreham.

Her special day began at Hove fire station where she boarded a 1929 Dennis Pump Escape, the engine in service during the war.

She and her husband were driven along the seafront and on to Preston Circus to be welcomed by station commander Phil Thompson.

She was given a guided tour of the station and witnessed a drill before retiring to the mess to share her cake with Blue Watch, which she belonged to 60 years before.

Even after 60 years, however, Gladys was adamant she would not slide down the firemen's pole.

She said: "I wouldn't go down it then and I won't now. I had forgotten it was such a long drop."

Gladys met husband Geoffrey while he was training to be a naval officer at Lancing College.

He said: "I used to send myself a signal ordering me to Preston Circus station so I could see Gladys. She was known then as Senior Leading Firewoman Gladys Page."