A GREAT-GREAT grandmother has celebrated her 100th birthday with a party surrounded by her friends and family.

Annie Gill has lived through two world wars and vividly remembers the Queen's Coronation fifty years ago.

But of all the experiences that Mrs Gill, who turned 100 yesterday, has lived through, the two most important have involved her family.

She married her late husband Frederick, whom she met in their home village of Toronto, when she was 19, at St Anne's Church, in Crook Market Place.

In the 71 years they were married the couple raised two children, Doris and Fred, at family homes in Toronto, High Grange and Crook.

Mr Gill served in the Army for four years during the First World War, and fought in the Battle of the Somme. He later worked at Toronto pit. He died ten years ago, aged 95.

Mrs Gill, who lives at Southfield Lodge, Southfields Villas, Crook, said: "We met and married as teenagers, and since then my family has been the centre of my life.

"I have two grandchildren, seven great and nine great-great grandchildren whom I think the world of."

Staff at the residential home organised a party, with music and a buffet lunch, for her many friends and family.

Mrs Gill said: "It has been wonderful celebrating, a telegraph from the Queen was a nice treat and having lots of company is lovely."

June Gordon, operational supervisor at Southfield, said: "Annie is a popular woman and we are thrilled to celebrate with her.

"She is well-known for her sense of humour and pride in her appearance."