A SHOCKED widow had a birthday to remember when her son jetted in from Canada with her weekly shop.

Vera Stratford, 80, depends on son Mark to buy her groceries on the internet from his home 7,000 miles away in Toronto.

The Wheldrake pensioner has battled multiple sclerosis for 45 years, has bad arthritis and broke her leg in 2002, leaving her unable to get out to the supermarket.

Normally her weekly list goes via phone to Canada, then Mark informs Asda through its home shopping computer service before the order is delivered ten miles to her house from the Monks Cross store.

But when Asda bosses heard about the helpful son they flew him across the Atlantic so he could deliver her milk, bread and tea bags as a special 80th birthday present.

Vera wept when she saw Mark, 49, on her doorstep dressed as an Asda delivery man.

She said: "I didn't realise it was Mark until he took his cap off."

Mark left for Canada in 1973 to work as a store manager. He promised his mum he would only be out of the country for two years, but makes frequent trips home.

He said: "It was great to see her face."

Vera's dad died in a mining accident when she was a teenager, leaving her to look after family members while her mum went to work.

An Asda spokeswoman said: "Vera is an inspiration to us all. We were delighted to be part of her special day."

Updated: 10:25 Wednesday, August 04, 2004