A WOMAN from the North-East will be celebrating her position as Britain's oldest person tomorrow, when she reaches her 109th birthday.

Florence Cox, the mother of two daughters, served for many years behind the counter in her father's greengrocery shop in South Bank, Middlesbrough, the town where she was born.

She is the toast of staff and fellow residents at Primrose Court, the residential home where she lives in South Bank.

Angela Beech, senior care assistant at the home said: "She is very sound-minded. All her faculties are there and she is very independent.

"She is more independent than most of them, and some of them are half her age.''

Mrs Cox is looking forward to a family birthday celebration tomorrow. She will be joined for the event by former neighbours, who are travelling from Great Yarmouth.