MOST 18-year-olds have an extensive birthday list featuring computer games, iPhones and the latest clothes.

Although for Tilly Abbott, who will turn 18 on April 2, she has only one thing in mind- a date in a restaurant, with a nice tablecloth.

Tilly has Down’s Syndrome, and has never had a real birthday party before, so mum Andrea wanted her 18th birthday to be particularly special.

Instead of a party in a hall with school friends, Mrs Abbott is willing to grant her daughter’s request of a date with flowers at a restaurant, with a tablecloth, and a meal of chicken nuggets, chips and peas.

Mrs Abbott, from Tanners Meadow in Braintree, said: “First of all we were going to have a birthday party for her but it would have been very difficult to get hold of her friend’s parents at the school, and then find a hall to hire.

“I asked her if there was anything she wanted and she said she wanted a date.

“She has a boyfriend at school and she said she wanted someone to bring her flowers and have a meal at a table, with a nice tablecloth.”

Tilly, who attends the Edith Borthwick School in Braintree, enjoys going out for meals and her mum wants her birthday date to be extra special.

Mrs Abbott said: “It’s a bit hard for her to approach someone and ask, but she just wants something a bit more extraordinary.

“She’s quite excited about being 18 as she said she will be officially grown up then.

“For every birthday she only ever wants a birthday cake with candles, she isn’t into materialistic things.

“She likes going out for meals and we encourage that- she enjoys the atmosphere and it is good for her social skills.

“A simple thing in life can make a big difference, and it’s a big step seeing my daughter going out on her first date.”

Mrs Abbott is looking for a restaurant willing to grant her daughter’s birthday wish.

Contact andrea-abbott@live.co.uk