A RETIRED miner was yesterday surrounded by his family as he celebrated his 100th birthday.

Jack Jolly, a resident at Glendale House, Blackhall Colliery, County Durham, was born in Ushaw Moor near Durham and, after leaving school at the age of 14, went to work in the local pit.

Mr Jolly later moved to Easington where he worked underground at Horden Colliery.

In 1929, he married Mary Gates and they had two children - a son and a daughter.

Extending his close-knit family now are four grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.

Following his retirement, Mr Jolly enjoyed gardening and painting with one of his works going on show as part of an exhibition in Peterlee.

Staff at Glendale joined with Mr Jolly's family yesterday for a birthday party to mark his long life.