SHE may be only days short of her telegram from the Queen, but with an elegance and poise that puts Naomi Campbell and Kate Moss to shame, Dorothy Tanfield is anything but last year's model.

At an age when many would think of nothing more adventurous than curling up with their slippers, the 99-year-old is carving out a new career - as a catwalk fashion model.

And if her bikini days are perhaps in the past, she proved she can still captivate the crowds as the cheers rang out and she stole the limelight from the six others in the show.

Mrs Tanfield made her modelling debut at the Edinburgh Woollen Mill store in Richmond, North Yorkshire last week. It may not have been New York, Milan or Paris, but it was nonetheless a show-stopping performance.

"I wasn't keen at first," she said, "but once I was there I had a lovely time.

"One kind gentleman, who is from the town, helped me a little as I walked around."

Mrs Tanfield became involved in after helping organise the fashion show to raise funds for Richmond Methodist Church, where she is a regular worshipper.

The former shop worker threw herself into the challenge - to give her something to occupy her mind.

Show organiser Kathy Thomson said: "She looked absolutely fantastic, just as elegant as the Queen Mother.

"You could see in her face that she loved every minute of it - she really played to the audience. She is a lovely lady and an absolute delight to be around."

It was a sentiment echoed by close friend Moira Heptinstall, 67, who said: "I met Dorothy when she looked after my children 34 years ago - and have adopted her ever since. She is a very Christian person, but not straight-laced - she has a good sense of humour and a very caring nature."

Mrs Tanfield spent her early years in Brompton and moved with her late husband, Ron, to Richmond, and is now living in Queens Court.

As she prepared for next week's 100th birthday celebration, Mrs Tanfield revealed the secret of her long life.

"Firstly, it's about being given good health, there I've been lucky," she said.

"It's also about keeping going and keeping your mind active. We should never give up on ourselves. I always try to keep an interest in things, I don't want to let my mind go dead."