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JOAN'S JOY

Heartwarming moment pensioner, 92, flings window open to meet baby great-granddaughter in surprise lockdown visit

THIS is the heartwarming moment a pensioner flung open her window to meet her new great-granddaughter for the first time.

Joan Cartwright, 92, can be seen looking absolutely delighted as she finally gets to see baby Holly after seven weeks of being stuck inside.

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 Joan Cartwright can be seen beaming as her grandson Will shows off baby Holly
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Joan Cartwright can be seen beaming as her grandson Will shows off baby HollyCredit: Mirrorpix

She is pictured flinging open her window and throwing out her arms to see her new granddaughter who is being lifted by her dad Will Cartwright in Horsforth, Leeds.

Will and his wife Jen had planned the surprise visit beneath her window as lockdown rules prevent Joan from meeting little Holly.

The couple said it was an "emotional moment" as Joan shouted "I hope I can hold her one day", reports the .

Her grandson Will, 36, said: "We don’t know how old Holly will be before she can properly meet our parents and grandparents.

'I HOPE I CAN HOLD HER ONE DAY'

“My Nanna doesn’t have a smartphone or computer or anything. She doesn’t have wifi so it’s quite difficult.

“Other than standing outside her window it’s quite hard to communicate with her."

Will confessed "I am not sure its quite within the rules" but said it should count as supporting an elderly and vulnerable person.

He added: "She doesn’t have her own garden. She’s stuck inside and she isn’t seeing anyone, except for things being dropped off."

The great gran, who also has five grandchildren lost her husband Ron a few years ago.

She has not left her flat for almost seven weeks due to the coronavirus.

 Will and Jen with baby Holly who was born just before the lockdown on March 13
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Will and Jen with baby Holly who was born just before the lockdown on March 13Credit: Mirrorpix

Holly is Will and Jen's second child after two-year-old Noah, and she was born on March 13 at Airedale General Hospital - just ten days before the start of lockdown.

Jen said: "It was quite emotional. Nanna is adorable, she is just such a lovely, fun, lady.

“She always has the grandchildren around for tea, so she’s really active. She makes the best chicken pie so we are missing that."

She added: "Afterwards we sent the picture to all our family. It’s one we will have to explain to Holly when she’s older."

Joan is said to be in "good spirits" but continues to be nervous about the virus due to her age.

Her daughter, Judith Waterworth, has been doing regular food deliveries for her mum and always stops for a chat at the window.

Will said hospitals were still functioning as normal when Holly was born, but added "everyone knew change was on the horizon but we didn’t know what it would be".

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Will and Jen said for the first few weeks of Holly's life the couple were unable to have regular health visits to keep an eye on the new baby.

Jen added: “It is not the maternity leave that I had imagined but we are trying to make the most of it and can’t wait to see family and friends again and show Holly off.”

She said Holly has not been formally weighed since day five, but they have tried to weigh her on the bathroom scales but its "not quite the same".

The heartwarming scene comes as Britain remains on lockdown over the coronavirus pandemic, with the measures .

Government ministers have warned the rules will not be relaxed until people show they won't flout the lockdown put in place to save lives.

Previously, over 70s have been told to stay at home for at least another three months - but it is expected measures for the elderly will stretch forward into most of the year.

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