A FORMER headteacher was top of the class as she celebrated her 102nd birthday.

Cecilia Hodgson marked the occasion at St Aidan’s Lodge, a residential care home in Framwellgate Moor, Durham City, which has been her home since she left Tudhoe in 2013.

Having trained as a teacher at St Hild’s College, in Durham, Mrs Hodgson, who was originally from Cramlington, Northumberland, taught at various schools and was headmistress at Dean Bank School in Ferryhill.

Mrs Hodgson’s husband George and only child Deidre have both died, but her mother also lived beyond her centenary.

The home organised birthday entertainment for Mrs Hodgson on Tuesday (May 5), with Alan Cutler, a favourite of Mrs Hodgson's, singing songs, telling jokes and making balloon models. A spokeswoman for the home said she had enjoyed a great time.

The celebrations actually began on Friday, when Mrs Hodgson went out for a meal with relatives. Her family visited her at the home today, where tea and cake was served.