A North Yorkshire great grandmother who helped in the Second World War evacuation effort has celebrated her 102nd birthday in style.

Joan Brown, a resident at RMBI Care Home in York, enjoyed a day of celebration including carpet bowls, lunch with her son and drinks with fellow residents.

The 102-year-old was born in Pocklington and worked as a billeting officer during the evacuation effort of the Second World War.

She particularly focused on rehousing children and mothers in the Wolds from bombed cities like Liverpool, coventry and Hull.

Joan regularly tells the stories of the children she helped from her vivid memories of the 1940s.

She said: "I can't believe I'm still here.

"I've enjoyed a happy, active, full life, always busy.

"I love the Wolds and driving around the East Riding in the Austin Mini.

"I have a wonderful family and they keep me going."

Joan moved into the York care home six years ago and she is described by the activities coordinator as being "full of energy".

For her 102nd birthday she enjoyed a game of carpet bowls, had lunch with her son John, had drinks with fellow residents and enjoyed gifts of flowers and chocolate.

Throughout her adult life the Yorkshirewoman has been active. 

Joan enjoys gardening, baking, cooking and rural country life.

She has four grandchildren and seven great grandchildren which she treasures.

She met her first husband, Syd Dixon, in the school playground when she was just five years old.

They married later in life but two weeks afterwards Syd was called up to join the Royal Signal Corps.

He was away in North Africa and Italy for four years.

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Syd passed away when their children Geoff and John were teenagers.

Joan worked tirelessly to provide a happy upbringing for them and she later married John Brown, who interviewed her for the billeting job.

Sadly just four years later he died and Joan was widowed again.