ONE of Darlington's oldest residents has died at the age of 105.

Eva Clapham put her longevity down to hard work, a good sing-song and a banana a day.

Born in Aycliffe Village, in 1896, Mrs Clapham's fiance was killed during the First World War.

While the war was raging across Europe, she helped her father on numerous building sites.

She turned her hand to everything from mixing cement to labouring, helping out because many of the men were away fighting.

Mrs Clapham moved to London shortly before the Second World War, but returned to the region during the Blitz.

She married railway worker Jim Clapham when she was 53 and the couple set up home at The Green, Heighington. He died more than 20 years ago.

Since 1995, Mrs Clapham had lived at the Gardens Nursing Home, Darlington, where she regularly enjoyed a sing-song and often joined in with her war-time favourites.

Nephew Dennis Jones said his aunt loved the home, where she would have celebrated her 106th birthday in November.

Mrs Clapham's funeral service will be conducted in St Michael's Church, Heighington, on Wednesday, at 1pm.