AUTHOR Kim Hayes gave her gran the perfect birthday present when she dedicated a book of poetry to her.

Kim presented the first copy of The Journey Home, to Eileen Polley, at Little Holland Hall nursing home, in Holland Haven.

Mrs Polley, 90, has been a resident there since suffering a stroke.

The book contains a poem specially written for Kim’s grandmother. Kim said: “She was just flabbergasted, and broke into tears of joy.”

Mrs Polley raised two children in London during the Blitz of the Second World War. She lived in Maldon Road, Margaretting, for almost 60 years, until her stroke.

Kim’s mother died 16 years ago.

She added: “This is the greatest thing I can do for my nan. I learned a valuable lesson when I lost my mother. You must appreciate what you've got while you've got it.”

The Journey Home contains 100 poems. It was written under the pen-name Ladee Basset.