A GREAT deal of hard work and a close-knit family have helped Ruth Hewitt reach her 100th birthday.

The pensioner, of Robson Road, West Auckland, spent many of her years working hard to make ends meet, but said she would not swap anything about her life.

She said: "I have been used to hard work. Four of us had to live on 29 shillings a week. There wasn't a lot of work around then.

"But I have had a good life and I can never grumble about it. I enjoyed work and I had a very happy marriage, that was one good thing.''

Mrs Hewitt was an Aycliffe Angel, working with detonators in the munitions factory in Newton Aycliffe during the Second World War. She also worked at Doggarts, in Bishop Auckland.

She was born in Evenwood and lived at the Golden Fleece pub, which was run by her parents, from the age of 11.

She married her husband, Jimmy Hewitt, at the Saxon Church, in Escomb. Their reception was held at the small pub over the road, now known as The Saxon. The couple had two daughters, Lillian and Jenny.

Mrs Hewitt cleaned the different pubs that her parents took on over the years and catered for weddings and special occasions for family friends.

She has been a widow for 43 years, and now lives with her daughter, Lillian. She celebrated her birthday at home, with her three grandchildren, two great-grandchildren and seven great-great-grandchildren.

She said: "I did not want a fuss at first, but I enjoyed it. I am very well looked after.''

Her daughter said: "She is the best mother in the world.

"She went without for us and she has always been there. All of the family would come to her with their troubles."