WHEN ex-miner Tom Brown reached his century on Christmas Eve, he was just as proud that his "kid" brother is only five years behind him.

The only secret for longevity that Mr Brown, from Leeholme, can think of is the hard work he and his younger brother Jack, who lives 300 miles south in Bishops Stortford, learned from their pitman father, who took his family with him as he moved from mine to mine around the Durham coalfield.

Tom was born in the east Durham village of Thornley, but grew up in several communities, including Coundon and nearby Leasingthorne.

He started working down the Leasingthorne pit himself in 1919, at the age of 14, and stayed until he retired 46 years later.

He has lived alone since his wife Ellen died 25 years ago, and still manages his own home with the help of great-nieces Jane Bateman and Ann Hardy.

Mr Brown said: "I don't think there will be many brothers will have lived as long as we have.

"I don't know how I have done it, except that I have never smoked and worked hard all my life.

"Conditions down the pit were very bad.

"I went down at an early age and you couldn't breathe for the dust, but I am still here."

Among Mr Brown's birthday cards was a message of good wishes from the Queen.