MARGARET KING, whose family moved to Australia when she was a baby, celebrated her 100th birthday with a party at the weekend.

Her daughter, Elizabeth Armstrong, said that the family emigrated on an assisted passage, but they found it too hot, and after Mrs King's mother got lost in the bush north of Perth, 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'," said Mrs Armstrong.

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 started work as a telephonist and telegraphist at the post office in Richmond and Darlington.

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

They married in Richmond and then moved around the North of England working at various post offices.

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

Mrs Armstrong said that due to ill health, Mrs King 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 does a crossword every day and is 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.