FAMILY and friends of a Chester-le-Street woman met yesterday to help her celebrate her 100th birthday.

West House Nursing Home, in Waldridge Road, was decked out with banners and balloons for Neil Scott's big day.

A party was held for 25 residents, with entertainment from singer Robyn Martin.

Mrs Scott's nephew, John Walker, said: "She was a bit overwhelmed at first with all the fuss that was being made, but then she started to relax and enjoy herself."

Born in Berwick, Mrs Scott's family moved to County Durham when her father secured a job in the coalfield before the First World War.

She became a teacher and worked in Grange Villa, Chester-le-Street, until she married Jack. The couple moved to Ilkley, West Yorkshire, before they lived in Cambridge, where he was a headteacher.

They retired to Ripon, North Yorkshire, but her husband died in the late 1970s.

Mr Walker said: "She is a very intelligent lady, well- educated and artistic.

"She was ahead of her time because she came from a big family with not much money, but managed to go to college and did very well."