A BLACK Country family recreated a scene from more than a century ago to mark a realtive's 90th milestone.

Dudley great-grandmother Beryl Brookes had long admired a picture of her mother, Emily Maud Oakley, taken on her 21st birthday at Dudley Castle back in the 1890s.

To mark Beryl's 90th birthday her daughter, Avril Watkins, decided to set up a photoshoot with today's family members at the same location as a surprise present for Beryl.

Avril Watkins said: "When I was a child mum often showed me and my brother the photograph of her own mother at Dudley Castle.

"She loved the venue and the fact that all her immediate relatives were on it and mentioned that it would be wonderful to do the same with our family. That gave me an idea for mum's 90th birthday present."

She added: "When I contacted the zoo they were fantastic and did everything they could to make mum's day special.

"The photoshoot was fun and the photographs are just lovely; a marvellous memento of an important family occasion."

Beryl Brookes added: “I can’t believe we’ve done it, it’s amazing and something that will be treasured for many years to come.”

The original picture shows Emily Maud Oakley, who shares the same birth date (October 26) as her daughter Beryl, at the centre of the group, flanked by her parents Sarah and Ben Oakley. To the left is Emily's sister, Nelly, and brother Sid, and to the right is a man called Tom whose connection to the family group is not known. The younger sisters are Marie, Ida and Dolly.

The 2013 photograph features Beryl (in the purple jacket), her sister Marion Bradley, daughter Avril and son-in-law Graham, son Malcolm and daughter-in-law Jenny, four grandchildren, four great grandchildren, plus nephews and family member partners.