HERE come the girls - all five generations of them and spanning 87 years.

The female line-up in ‘great-great nanny’ Betty Turner's Stourbridge family just got even stronger, with the birth six months ago of little Ava Brookes.

Mrs Turner, aged 87, a widow, of Ridge Grove, is the matriarch of a gang of girls who seal their bond every Wednesday, when they go out for a pub lunch together.

Next in line is her daughter, Carol Birch, 66, who also lives in Ridge Grove, followed by her granddaughter, Linda Jones, 45, of New Farm Road, and great granddaughter Nicole Jones, 21, of Audnam, Amblecote.

The birth of Nicole's daughter, Ava, whose dad is David Brookes, completes the five generations of females.

"We've no idea why the female line is so strong in our family," said Nicole.

"There are men - I have an older brother and my mum has a brother - but great-great nanny Bett and great nan Carol have both lost their husbands."

Mrs Turner, who has two children - both daughters - said: "It's lovely that we are now five generations.

"Ava's a beautiful baby. She didn't come as a surprise because Nicole had a scan when she was pregnant, so we knew she was going to have a girl.

"The girls in our family are all very close and we enjoy getting together."

First-time mum Nicole, who gave birth at Russells Hall Hospital, Dudley, said: "Great great nanny Bett, great nan Carol, nanny Linda, my mum and I have a great bond and now Ava has joined us.

"We're quite alike in our personalities.

"We used to like going shopping all together but that can't happen so much now because great-great nanny Bett needs a wheelchair and I've got a pram, which makes it difficult.

"We also all like cakes - and great-great nanny Bett has always liked making them.

"Now we tend to meet every Wednesday for a pub meal."