A CENTENARIAN keeps young by spending time with her energetic brood of grandchildren.

Edie Martin, who was 100 yesterday, loves having the youngest members of her family around her at home on the Woodhouse Close Estate, Bishop Auckland. She has nine great grandchildren and four great-great grandchildren. The youngest is five-weeks-old.

One of ten children, Mrs Martin was born in Hexham but moved to Wolsingham when she was six months. She was in domestic service until she married her husband Ernest, who was a roof felter and later worked for the council.

They had three children, a son who died soon after birth, and daughters Joan Bell, who died in 2003, and Janice Murton. Mrs Martin has lived with Janice since Ernest died, 37 years ago. She went out to work after his death, and was a home help for an elderly woman in Crook.

Mrs Murton said: "She was going out to work when other people were starting their retirement.

"She has always had a lot of energy and being with the grandchildren keeps her young at heart."

Family and friends will celebrate at the Two Blues pub today.