A regional newspaper is laying claim to what it believes is the oldest paper ‘girl’ in Britain – and maybe even the world.

At the age of 85, Maud Thompson has braved snow, wind and rain delivering Stoke-on-Trent daily paper The Sentinel for the past 12 years.

She is a full four years older than the current Guinness World Record holder for the category of oldest female newspaper delivery person – named last year as Shropshire Star paper girl Joyce Pugh.

The grandmother first started delivering the paper alongside her grand-daughter Kirsty Bettany as way to keep herself occupied following the death of her husband Raymond, and later decided to keep going on her own.

Sentinel assistant news editor Tom Mullen said: “We heard about Maud and thought it was a lovely story. It also got us thinking – could she perhaps be Britain’s oldest paper girl?

“She says the people she delivers to have also become her friends. I think this is a testament to the fantastic community we have here in Staffordshire, and goes to show that newspapers still play a large part in their lives.”

Maud Thompson, aged 85, who has been delivering The Sentinel every day for 12 years

Every day at 11am, she picks up her load from Macy’s in Cheadle High Street and spends an hour delivering them around the town.

She even donned wellies in January and braved the heavy snowfall to ensure readers got their paper, despite her trolley  falling apart.

“I enjoy doing it. All of my customers are classed as friends. I meet a lot of people walking around, which makes it such a nice job,” she said.

“Sometimes my family joke and say ‘it’s time for you to retire’ but they say if I am happy then I should keep doing it.

“As long as my feet still carry me I will deliver the papers. I think I am very lucky for my age.”

Current world record holder Joyce has been delivering the Shropshire Star to fellow residents of the village of White Grit for the last 40 years after taking on the paper round from her children.

She was declared the oldest paper girl in the world last year and features in the 2013 edition of the Guinness Book of World Records.

Maud’s full story can be read here.

Do you have a delivery boy or girl who can top Maud’s 85 years? E-mail us at [email protected]