AMAZING Amy Hulmes of Bury is about to be officially declared the UK's oldest person and the third oldest on the planet.

Researchers are set to re-write the record books in recognition of the 113-year-old's incredible achievement.

The Guinness Book of World Records is looking at documents, supplied by Amy's family, which they hope will back up their claim.

A Guinness researcher told the Bury Times: "Amy is on course to being recorded as the oldest person in the country."

She will replace Nellie Bradley in the record listings who was born nearly two years after Amy's birth on October 5, 1887.

That apparent discrepancy prompted Amy's daughter, Mrs Barbara Murray, to try to have her mother recognised as the UK's oldest person. To support the claim, Mrs Murray (73), sent Guinness Amy's birth and marriage certificates and an insurance policy. However, attempts to trace her mother's baptism record proved fruitless.

But this week Mrs Murray, who has a sister Marjorie (76), made a vital discovery at Bury Library.

"My mother's name was on an old electoral roll when she was just three-years-old. I'll be sending Guinness a copy of this too."

Mrs Murray says she is determined Amy takes her rightful place in the records.

"When people kept saying the oldest lady was Nellie Bradley, we decided to write to Guinness.

"We are all very proud of my mum and we are keeping our fingers crossed her longevity is at last officially recognised."

Researcher Louise Whetter of Guinness, who has the task of authenticating Amy's documents, said all the paperwork seemed in order.

"We normally require at least three pieces of evidence, such as birth, marriage and baptism records or something which places someone at a particular time.

"There are so many false claims that we have to be very careful. As far as Mrs Hulmes is concerned, we're on the verge of being able to prove her age."

Amy was born in Walker Terrace, off Rochdale Road, Bury, and spent many years living in Lord Street. She married husband Philip who died 36 years ago at the age of 75.

A former weaver, she fiercely guarded her independence and for many years lived with her grand-daughter at a family farm in Walmersley and only became a resident of Chestnut Court Nursing Home in Bury when she was 105. Until recent years she enjoyed remarkably good health.

The world's oldest person is Marie Bremont of France, born in April 1886. Second oldest is Kamato Hongo who was born just 19 days before Amy.