A Darlington woman celebrated her 100th birthday with a party for family and friends at the weekend.

Margaret King was born in Lincolnshire, but her family emigrated to Australia when she was a baby.

Her daughter Elizabeth Armstrong said that when they arrived there they found it too hot, and after Mrs King's mother got lost in the Bush, north of Perth where they were living, they decided to come home in 1910.

"She has some amazing stories to tell. She used to walk to school along the railway line and there were cockatoos trained to sit there and say 'keep off the line'."

When the family returned to England, Mrs King's father, who was a saddler, opened a shop in Richmond, North Yorkshire, where she grew up.

After school she worked as a telephonist and telegraphist for the Post Office in Richmond and Darlington.

She met her husband Vincent, whose family had the post office at Middleton Tyas.

The couple had two children, Elizabeth and David, and the family moved to Oxford before Mr and Mrs King retired to Morecambe.

Mrs Armstrong said that due to ill health, her mother then moved to be nearer her daughter in Durham and later in Darlington, where she now lives in Abbeyfields sheltered accommodation.

Mrs Armstrong said her mother still did a crossword every day and was a keen needleworker.

"We had a lovely birthday party, she really enjoyed it."

Mrs King's five grandchildren and five great-grandchildren also attended her party.