TWO centenarians at a care home have cast their postal votes for today’s General Election.

Betty Lodge and Dora Hardy, both aged 100, were the oldest residents at Bocking’s New Deanery to take part in the poll.

Both residents have voted in every General Election since their first in July 1945 after the war.

Dora is Braintree born and bred.

Betty, who moved to Braintree with her late husband 45 years ago, said: “If we didn’t vote, Parliament wouldn’t exist.”

Administrator Sarah Matthews ensured all residents at the care home could vote.

She said: “I think it’s important that everyone has the opportunity to vote and it’s been a pleasure seeing how involved the residents are in the different aspects of this election.”

Sarah made a ballot box so residents could post their own voting envelopes.

Activities manager Jo Whitehouse said: “Sarah has done a fantastic job to ensure they have the opportunity to vote. She arranged 33 postal votes and ensured they were posted on time.

“We will be taking a couple of residents to the polling station in our minibus, but most opted for a postal vote or arranged a proxy vote with their families.”