TWO best friends who were born on the same day and met at junior school are celebrating their 90th birthdays today (Monday).

Dorothy Hazzard and Ivy Milward have been best buddies for more than 80 years and since the age of ten, have celebrated every single birthday together - except for the time they were separated during the Second World War.

The pair, who are both from Salisbury, grew up just five minutes from each other and first met at St Paul's Junior School before going to St Edmund's School together.

As children, they used to play in the streets, slide down Old Sarum hill on detachable seats and were mad about the pictures, often getting adults to buy their tickets so they could catch the over-16 films.

Ivy, who admits she was the one who usually talked Dorothy into their escapades, said: "I used to do myself up in order to look older and can remember wearing so much eye make-up that once, when we did get into an over-16 film, I came out with black all over my face, because I'd been crying so much as it was really sad - Dorothy was roaring with laughter - we loved any Errol Flynn film or Clark Gable movie."

Over the years, both friends have been there for each other in times of joy and bereavement, and have only been separated on their birthdays when Ivy was in the RAF during the war.

Dorothy, who has never married, was bridesmaid at Ivy's wedding and is part of the family, which includes nine grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren.

The best friends put their long-lasting friendship down to complementary characteristics, with Dorothy being placid and Ivy, more quick-tempered.

These days they meet up two or three times a week and celebrated their 90th birthday with a big bash among friends and family at the Swan pub in Stoford, where they enjoyed a cake and their favourite dessert - a knickerbocker glory.