A WOMAN who celebrated her 100th birthday with family and friends puts her longevity down to clean living.

Nora Brown still lives at her home in East Stanley and opened her front door to her nearest and dearest for a buffet lunch and tea yesterday.

She first went abroad at the age of 82 - to the party city of San Antonio, in Ibiza. And the following year, she went to Magaluf, Majorca.

But Mrs Brown said the secret of her long and healthy life is good, clean living. "I never drank or smoked, and I go to church regularly," she said.

"I have got my card from the Queen and I am very pleased. It is quite an achievement."

Mrs Brown also received flowers, chocolates, fruit and a landscape painting from her granddaughter, Helen Colledge.

She has lived in the Stanley area all her life and was a devoted housewife to her late husband, Ernie, who was a bus inspector.

Mrs Brown has a daughter, Joyce Colledge, two grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

Her daughter said: "She is very bright and interested in everything.

"She loves sport and watches snooker, football and cricket.

"We have had a lovely day."