Grandmother Sylvia Elliot was proud as punch yesterday when she spent the afternoon taking tea with the Queen.

The multiple sclerosis sufferer from Con Way, Benfleet, was invited to Buckingham Palace where she officially accepted the keys to a new Ford Focus.

Sylvia, 65, got the specially adapted car from Motability in March. She was one of only six people representing the national charity at the tea party.

However, the invite came as a surprise to the modest pensioner.

She said: "I don't really know why I was chosen to represent them. I think they chose me because I'd had a new car this year."

She is now almost totally dependent on either the car or an electric buggy. But she was looking forward to taking husband Russell, her two daughters Lindsey and Stephanie and grandchildren Millie and Harley to the palace for her VIP date.

Published Thursday, June 26, 2003

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