A GREAT grandmother has celebrated her 100th birthday with four generations of her family.

May Cook, from Leadgate, near Consett, celebrated the milestone on May 30 with cake and a snowball – her favourite tipple.

She was joined by niece Betty Askew, 83, daughter Irene Watson, 72, granddaughter Samantha Oliver, 44, and great grandson Cooper Oliver, 8 along with other members of the extended family.

Mrs Oliver said: "She's had a difficult life but she's made it through and she's still here. It's a testament to the working class.

"She's very feisty. She's well-known for checking all the local kids in the area and she would always give you a piece of her mind."

Mrs Cook, a resident at Redwell Hills Care Home, was born in Leadgate on May 30, 1916 and has lived in the area for her whole life.

She married her husband Benny, a miner, in 1942, and the couple had two daughters, Irene and Margaret, who was killed by a motorbike as a child.

Mrs Cook, who loved playing bingo and going to the cinema, was often to be seen walking her beloved dogs around the village until she was no longer able to.

Mrs Watson said: "She looked after the family from quite a young age and she's always been very kind and caring. She would do what she could for people in the street."