ONE of a County Durham village's grand old ladies celebrated having had birthdays in three centuries yesterday.

Bella Gauden, known in her home village Sacriston as Annie, was surrounded by family and friends on her 101st birthday at her new residence at Langley Park Nursing Home.

Her verdict on the secret to a long life: "Lots of hard work is the key to it," she said. Mrs Gauden, who has one daughter and a grand-daughter, said she considered modern life to be more entertaining than it was in the old days. She said: "There was nothing to entertain the mind. We had dances and things like that which were great fun but there's more now."

Her daughter, Olive Todd, said: "So many people remember her and kept coming up with flowers and cards. She is still very well known in the town."

Mrs Gauden was born in Northumberland but moved to the Sacriston area as a child. She ran a general dealers store with her husband Bobby for 40 years.