THERE was a special celebration as an Aycliffe Village resident celebrated her 100th birthday.

More than 60 friends and family members gathered in the village hall, which had been decorated with bunting, presents, cards and a banner, on Saturday, August 21 - the day of her birthday - to surprise Muriel Scott with a party.

She also was presented with a bouquet of flowers from the Mayor of Great Aycliffe Town Council, Councillor Sandra Haigh.

Muriel said: "I didn't expect a big party. It has been very nice, very unexpected."

She has lived in the village all her life and was born on a Sunday when the church bells were ringing, as the middle sister of three siblings.

Muriel attended the village school and went on to work in the Aycliffe Ordnance Factory as one of the Aycliffe Angels.

In 1942, at the age of 21, she was sent to the Royal Ordnance Factory in Staffordshire, where her work involved inspection of detonators. She returned to the village before the end of the Second World War to continue working in the Aycliffe factory.

Her final job was as a receptionist at the Aycliffe Children's Centre and Secure Unit where she worked until she retired at 62 to look after her mother.

Although she never married, she has a large family with nephews and nieces of several generations.

Muriel has been a member of Aycliffe Village WI since its inception ten years ago and attends the fortnightly bingo sessions in the village hall.

Asked the secret of her long life, she said: "Aycliffe air!"

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