FAMILY and friends gathered to celebrate the 100th birthday of a much loved great-grandmother.

A reception was held for Hannah Rooney in Romanby Methodist Church Hall in Romanby, Northallerton.

Mrs Rooney, who lives in Romanby, received a bouquet of flowers from officials at Broadacres Housing Association, and was presented with a card from the Queen by one of her grandchildren.

Mrs Rooney was born in Newcastle on November 25, 1906. Her father, George Dixon, was lord mayor of the city in 1941.

She married Leonard Rooney, who died in 1988. The couple had a daughter, Hilda, 73, and a son, Tom, 67.

Mrs Rooney has three grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.