A woman from Waterhead who is over 100 years old has finally been recognised for helping to crack the Enigma code during World War Two.

Doreen Brooks, who is 101 years old, has been honoured with a purple plaque in recognition of her hard work during the second world war.

Ms Brooks was a part of the team that was tasked with intercepting German messages.

The team would log the messages and send them to the British Intelligence Service at Bletchley Park where Alan Turing's special team and his machines would work to decode the messages.

Mr Turing's machines were able to crack a total of 84,000 Enigma messages each month, accounting for two messages every minute.

Collectively, their efforts meant they were able to send fresh intelligence to aid the Western front, ultimately helping to bring an end to the war.

Some historians estimate that the codebreaking operation shortened the war in Europe by as many as two to four years and saved millions of lives in the process.

Yet the codebreakers tasked with breaking the Enigma, which they largely did in secret, were only recognised in recent years.

Ms Brooks and several others from the specialist team received a thank you letter from the then-Prime Minister, Gordon Brown, in 2009.

Now, however, Ms Brooks has her own purple plaque to commemorate her further which has been brought as part of a campaign by home care company, Home Instead.

Home Instead decided to give her this well-deserved recognition with a symbolic purple plaque.

These distinctive plaques mirror the blue English Heritage plaques that recognise remarkable famous people across the country.

The purple plaque for Ms Brooks was erected in Edinburgh alongside Elizabeth Wiskemann’s plaque who is another historical World War Two figure.

Ms Wiskemann contributed to the war effort through her work as an intelligence officer.

The 101-year-old, who has been a client of Home Instead Oldham and Saddleworth since 2019, said: “Why me? I’m not an MP or anyone famous.

“It was a shock, but a nice shock.”

Mick Sheehan, managing director of Home Instead Oldham and Saddleworth, added: “We are beyond pleased that Doreen’s heroic actions during World War Two have been recognised with the purple plaque award.

“She is an inspiration and it is a pleasure to provide her with support.”