A WOMAN made an 860-mile round-trip over four days so she could spend half an hour with her mum on her birthday.

Sarah Burnett travelled from her home in Edinburgh to a Poundbury care home to visit her mum Liz Thompson for her 90th birthday.

She has now thanked staff at the Castle View home for arranging the 'Covid-safe' visit which allowed her to spend special time with her mum.

The journey involved a flight from Edinburgh to Bristol, a train to Dorchester before she boarded a bus to Bridport where she stayed the night at her brother's flat. She then travelled to Poundbury the next day for the afternoon visit.

The care home visit was only half and hour but Sarah said it was worth it.

She then returned home but due to train and flight times this meant an overnight stay back in Bridport, then another overnight stay in Bristol, before getting the plane. Overall, the round trip took a total of four days.

She made the journey last month before tighter restrictions were put in place in England and Scotland.

Prior to the visit, the pair had not seen each other since Christmas and had only been able to speak via phone calls or video chats.

Sarah said: "The staff at Castle View have been genuinely caring all the way through lockdown and were so lovely about helping to make this happen. I can't thank them enough."

Sarah, a freelance copywriter, said: "Half an hour is not a long time to catch up on so many months' worth of news but it was definitely worth it.

"Mum was surprised when I said I would be coming. I think she had given up on her birthday."

Liz said: "I had decided not to make a fuss about my 90th and I had assumed no one was coming so it was great to see Sarah.

"It was a real surprise when she told me she was going to make the trip. She came a long way for such a short time."

To adhere to the home's 'Covid-safe' rules, the pair sat two metres apart in Liz's bedroom and Sarah wore personal protective equipment.

Sue Goodwin, team member at Castle View, said: "It was a privilege to host Sarah's visit from the other end of the county and enable the pair of them to see each other again in safety and with joy and laughter.

"It was such a special occasion."