A 66-year-old is set to become the ­oldest woman to give birth in Britain, it was reported last night.

Elizabeth Adeney is reported to be eight months pregnant after having had IVF treatment abroad.

She is four years older than the ­previous record holder, Patricia Rashbrook, who gave birth in 2006, aged 62.

A friend of Adeney told the Daily Mail she was still working a five-day week, in perfect health and looking ­forward to what is thought to be her first child. Adeney, a divorcee from Lidgate near Newmarket, Suffolk, runs her own textile company. She had been ­desperate to conceive for years, the unnamed friend said.

Most British clinics will not treat women over 50 and most NHS primary care trusts do not consider anyone over 40.

Adeney travelled to a Ukrainian clinic last year. "She was desperate for a child. She was over the moon when she learned last year that she was pregnant and has been quite open about it. It's not the sort of thing she can hide," the friend said.

"Elizabeth has had a pretty good pregnancy. She has been very well, considering her age. I'm amazed how she keeps going.

"She does get up a little later in the mornings than she used to and sometimes spends an hour or two at home before going to work but she is still at her ­business Monday to Friday."

Last night Adeney declined to discuss her condition in any detail. "I am a private person and while I appreciate there may be some publicity I will just ignore it," she told the Mail. "This has been a very personal decision and I do not feel I have to give interviews or talk to anyone in the media about what I have decided to do and where I have done it."

The world's oldest woman to give birth was Omkari Panwar, 70, from India, who gave birth to a twin boy and girl last year.