Turkey survives record 10th Christmas

Christmas might usually be a miserable time for turkeys for obvious reasons, but one bird is proving to be very much the exception to the rule.

Patchwork the turkey, who lives at Hen Heaven bird sanctuary in West Sussex, is set to celebrate a tenth Christmas this year.

Despite losing many friends and relatives to the roasting tin over the years, Patchwork is still going strong and ten Christmases is thought to be a record for any turkey.

Owner Linda Turvey has decided to throw the bird a party with a cake and cards to mark the occasion.

She also suggested Patchwork's longevity is down to her diet of grapes, bananas and turkey eggs.

"It is like being a 100-year-old person who still does a marathon … Patchwork is my favourite turkey as she's very beautiful and loving," Ms Turvey told Metro.

Male turkeys typically live for about two years and females can last for three years, putting Patchwork's age into perspective.