Sad Ivy's final farewell from Facebook... at 104

AN inspirational 104-year-old woman from Bradford who shot to fame after becoming the world's oldest social networker has died - but not before receiving a call from the pop star Peter Andre.

The Australian singer Peter spoke to Ivy Bean as she lay in her bed, a few hours before she passed away on Wednesday morning.

Ivy became the darling of the Internet after becoming the oldest Facebook user - attracting nearly 5,000 "friends" by the time she died. She was also renowned for updating more than 56,000 followers on Twitter - more than most celebrities.

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Mr Andre wasn't the only famous person Ivy had time for - her fan base on Twitter and Facebook was positively star-studded - including such famous names as actor Ashton Kutcher, disc jockey Chris Evans, Callum Best and the former Prime Minister's wife Sarah Brown.

The networking pensioner's passing has saddened and shocked her followers, with hundreds of tributes and flooding in literally by the minute - including one from former Deputy PM John Prescott.

Ivy became best friends with Mr Andre after he met her at a supermarket meet and greet last year and they kept in contact.

When he called Ivy's care home, staff say she opened her eyes and "gave a little smile" for the first time in 24 hours.

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Pat Wright, the manager of Hillside Manor in Bradford, said Ivy had a tumour that hadn't been detected. She had returned from hospital on Thursday and on Friday she was eating fish and chips.

She deteriorated on Sunday and was barely conscious on Tuesday when the pop star phoned to wish her well.

Never one to shy from the limelight Ivy starred on Peter's reality TV show and met him again at a book signing this year, where she sat by his side as he introduced her to his fans.

Mrs Wright said of Peter's final call to his friend: "We put him on loudspeaker so she could hear him better.

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"She hadn't opened her eyes for 24 hours before that but she did for him and gave a little smile even though she couldn't say anything.

"He told her that he was thinking about her, that she was such a strong woman and an inspiration, and told her that he loved her.

"When Peter rang and started talking to her we were all in tears, I just said 'Ivy, Peter's here for you'.

"Then you heard 'hello darling it's Peter', she just opened her eyes while he said all these things and then closed them again.

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"She was such a strong woman and did so much with her life, she will be so greatly missed, here and by all her followers."

Ivy passed away surrounded by family and friends, including her daughter Sandra Logan.

Ivy had set up her Facebook profile after hearing her about a 97-year-old French woman who also had a profile and thought she could beat that.

Her list of friends grew but never one to be held back by technology she diversified and branched out to Twitter - giving watchers up-to-date Ivy Bean info.

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Friends and followers rushed to leave tributes to the charismatic centenarian after the news was announced on her sites.

John Prescott wrote on Twitter: "So sad to hear @ivybean104 has died. An inspiration to tweeters young & old & proof you don't stop learning after 65! Rest in peace Ivy."

On Facebook, daughter Sandra informed Ivy's fans of the news: "This is the saddest and hardest message that I have ever had to write. Mum sadly passed away at eight minutes past midnight on 28th July.

"We have all as a family lost a wonderful mother, grandma and great-grandma. We are all devastated and words cannot explain how we as a family are all feeling.

I was with her all day and at the end I am sure that a little smile came on her face."