A BIGHEARTED binman gave a Kidderminster pensioner the surprise of her life by delivering a cake to her home on her 100th birthday.

Wyre Forest District Council binman Ben Bird, aged 30, surprised his favourite customer Dorothy Ballard, otherwise known as Mercy, by singing Happy Birthday at her doorstep and presenting her with a birthday cake topped with "100" candles.

Father-of-two Ben, from Stourport, told The Shuttle: "I've been on that round in Kidderminster for about eight years so every Thursday I walk up Mercy's path and get her bin and the lads carry on up the road while I spend 10 or 15 minutes with her, just chatting about life.

Kidderminster Shuttle:

"It's grown into a nice friendship. I love her to bits. She makes me laugh and I make her laugh.

"She tells me stories about her life - she's amazing. I could listen to her all day.

"A couple of years ago I told her when she makes it to 100 I'd get her a birthday cake. I don't think she thought much of it back then but I kept my promise."

A heartwarming video, which has since gone viral, shows Ben walking up Mercy's garden path, shielding the candles. The 100-year-old is clearly shocked when she opens the door, and Ben asks her to blow out the candles and "make a wish".

Kidderminster Shuttle:

When he suggests "to live to 105", Mercy tells him to "shut up!"

Mercy has lived in Tomkinson Drive for 74 years, and celebrated her century milestone on Thursday (August 8).

She has three children, 11 grandchildren, 32 great grandchildren, and 11 great great grandchildren.

Mercy worked at Tomkinson carpet factory and was a keen dancer in her youth, often performing her favourite, the Cha Cha, in local dancehalls.