A 75-year-old light bulb bought from Woolworths has survived being bombed by the Germans and looks set to shine on past Brexit.

Valerie Beaney last switched on her fabled 40-watt wonder a decade ago to show off the piece of electrical equipment when Woolies stores began to be culled from Kent high streets.

The bulb was bought in 1943.

The 78-year-old’s mother Rose Allen gave birth to her sister Elaine under its light and she is keen for its legacy to live on.

She said: “The last time I got the bulb out was 10 years ago.

“I have put it in my china cabinet because we are all scared stiff of it.

"We don’t want to be the one who breaks it.”

Mrs Beaney, of Oak Lane, Headcorn, revealed the bulb was painted by her dad Jack in an attempt to hide it from wardens during a Second World War curfew.

It has now moved to family homes in Walthamstow, Pluckley, and ended up at her home with her husband George.

The Woolworths customer relations team wrote to the Beaneys to say they were “amazed” the light was still in working order.

Mrs Beaney said: “In the Second World War we lived in London and there was a curfew on showing lights.

“Dad, in his wisdom, painted the bulb dark blue to alleviate the problem of the warden coming round.

“They got bombed out and moved to Pluckley.

“The bulb is as old as my sister because she was born under the light in the same room.

“When they moved to Pluckley they took the bulb with them and my dad scraped the blue off.”

Mrs Beaney is eager to hear from anybody else who has a light bulb that has existed for longer than hers as she believes her unusual family heirloom could be a unique one.

She added: “I have often wondered should it go in the Guinness Book of Records.

“It is a strange story really.”

Many Woolworths stores closed in late 2008 with some lasting until January 2009.