IT WAS the moment young ballroom dancers from the University of Southampton made a wish come true for a woman celebrating her 97th birthday.

Staff at a New Forest care home organised a Strictly Come Dancing-style event to help make Maureen Miller's special day even more memorable.

Ten members of the university's Ballroom and Latin Dance Society visited Woodpeckers in Sway Road, Brockenhurst, to entertain Maureen and her fellow residents.

Daily Echo: Southampton University students perform a dance routine at Woodpeckers care home in Sway Road, BrockenhurstSouthampton University students perform a dance routine at Woodpeckers care home in Sway Road, Brockenhurst (Image: Colten Care)

The group performed a series of routines in the lounge, including waltzes and a jive.

Maureen said: "I was blown away by the gesture. I couldn’t believe the team at the home had done this for me."

Four residents were given the task of scoring each dance out of ten, with the top two pairs coming back and dancing again. In the end, the jive emerged as the clear winner.

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Sian Harris is a companionship team member at the Colten Care-run home.

She said: "Maureen and I have had many chats about how she used to dance when she was younger as a hobby.

"She loves Strictly Come Dancing. This was all about creating a bit of Strictly magic and bringing back all the memories of her dancing past.

"It was lovely to be able to fulfill a wish for her and help her celebrate her 97th birthday."

Daily Echo: Southampton University students perform a dance routine at Woodpeckers care home at Sway Road, BrockenhurstSouthampton University students perform a dance routine at Woodpeckers care home at Sway Road, Brockenhurst (Image: Colten Care)

After the dancing, the visitors presented Maureen with chocolates and a birthday card before spending an hour chatting to residents about dancing and their university studies.

Sian added: "All the residents really enjoyed the afternoon and were so grateful to this talented young group for giving up their time to come and see us."

Maureen was born in 1926, the year of the General Strike when 1.7million workers walked out to prevent wage reductions and worsening conditions for coal miners.

It was also the year John Logie Baird performed the first public demonstration of a revolutionary new device called a television.

READ MORE: Male strippers make 92-year-old woman's dream a reality

A few weeks ago staff at another New Forest care home, Care UK's Sway Place, arranged for 92-year-old Betty Richardson to watch a show featuring a group of male strippers.

As reported in the Daily Echo, Betty and her friends were taken to Bournemouth Pavilion Theatre to enjoy a routine by the Dreamboys.

Speaking after the show she said: "Well, I'm not going to forget that in a hurry. Was that a dream or was I really there?".

Betty was also treated to a meet-and-greet session with the performers, plus a behind-the-scenes tour of the theatre.