FOUR British sisters are set to become the world’s oldest siblings with a combined age of nearly 400 and claim their secret to a long life is down to eating only British food.

    Twins Freda and Doris Latham have just celebrated their 101st birthday alongside sisters Gladys Camp, 96, and Phyllis Friend, 93, in their home county of Devon.

    Between the four of them, they have lived through 19 prime ministers, four monarchs and survived two World Wars.

    Their combined age of 391 years beats the previous record of the world’s oldest set of sisters who had a combined age of 386.

    The four siblings put their long and record-breaking life down to a healthy British diet and claim to avoid spicy, rich food.

    They are now hoping to get their achievement officially recognized by the Guinness Book of World Records.

    Gladys, who lives in Kentisbury, Devon, while the other three live in nearby Barnstaple, said, “It would be wonderful if we were officially recognized as the oldest sisters in the world. People are talking about the world, not just in this country.

    “I think part of the reason we have survived so long is because of the food we ate.

    “It was the way we were brought up — I am positive of it. Today they have all spiced-up things and I don’t think it does you any good.

    “We had some lovely times all together when we were children.”

    Doris also believes their longevity is down to diet and was influenced by wartime rations.

    She said, “There were six years of war. It was all plain food and we didn’t have anything fatty.

    “Father used to plant the garden and we always had plenty of vegetables. Mom was a good cook and we always learned from her over the years.”

    Between them, the four sisters have 11 children, 12 grandchildren, five great grandchildren and even two great-great grandchildren.

    Their combined total age figure would have been higher but their other two sisters Amy, 95, and May, 98, passed away recently.

    Gladys said her parents would be amazed to know that all six of their daughters had made it to their 90s.

    She said, “Dad was only 71 when he died, and mom was 75 so there was nothing in the genes.

    “It is an incredible achievement. We are really excited that we could be world record breakers.”(SD-Agencies)