A Midland woman born a month after the outbreak of the First World War has become the oldest person in Europe to receive a cochlear implant to improve her hearing.

Mollie Smith, who celebrates her 100^th birthday in September 2014, had the device implanted in her left ear at Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham (QEHB) in January 2014, before it was switched on in March 2014.

And the active great grandmother, who regularly goes to the gym and walks her dog every day, says it has already made a huge difference to her life.

Mollie, from Rugby in Warwickshire, was profoundly deaf in both ears, and is registered blind, but despite her impairments she fiercely maintains her independence.

She said: “My hearing is definitely better since I had the implant. It is much sharper and has made a great difference to me.

“I haven’t had a great deal of opportunity to talk to people for a while because they wouldn’t visit me as I couldn’t hear them.

“But I’ve got a neighbour opposite and I can hear what she says now. And I also have a friend who comes to my flat every Sunday and I can now hear him.”

Mollie, a widow who has three children aged 67 to 77, added: “Before I had the implant I hadn’t had the television on for nearly two years.

“I used to watch Noel Edmonds because I could hear what he said more, but that was about it. I’m now able to have it on more and watched the winter Olympics which I could see because of the snow in the background.

“And I could hear the presenters saying what they were doing, such as ‘that was a good jump’. That was quite clear so it was very good.

“I have also been able to hear my great grandson and his partner quite clearly. And when I go to the gym with my daughter I can now hear the receptionist.”

Mollie, who takes her Jack Russell terrier Zena for daily walks on her mobility scooter, also enjoys the treadmill and rowing machine during her twice-weekly visits to the gym with daughter Rita.

She added: “I’m definitely happy I had the operation as I can now hear better. I know I’m not fragile like most people my age but I still didn’t think I would get it done.”

Consultant Ear, Nose and Throat Surgeon Andrew Reid, said: “The intent was to improve her hearing and allow her to maintain a level of independent living.

“This sort of thing is possible for older people because of modern-day skills of anaesthesia and nursing care, and is a great example of teamwork across many clinical areas.”

Louise Craddock, Midlands Hearing Implant Programme Manager, said of Mollie’s cochlear implant: “We would not discriminate on the basis of age.

“She is entitled to receive an implant because she is profoundly deaf in both ears. And even though she’s registered blind, it’s her deafness that has caused the greater dependence on her family and been the biggest barrier to her independent life.

“Since she has had the implant I think everyone has seen a significant improvement in her communication.”

Daughter Rita, who acts as Mollie’s only carer, said of her mum: “I am so proud of her because she’s so independent and so determined.

“Age shouldn’t be a barrier to having your hearing, especially someone who has always been very active.

“She goes with me to the gym twice a week and she does all her own gardening. I have even caught her in the last few years lifting paving slabs.”

Rita said her mother used to be one of the finest dog trainers in the country and was a motorbike despatch rider during the war before working as a bus conductor.

“The quality of her life has certainly improved since she had this implant fitted,” she added.