RELATIVES from New Zealand and Ireland helped a former teacher to celebrate her 103rd birthday.

Rose Prior, who lives at the Nazareth House residential home, in Middlesbrough, spent the day with her family, including her 91-year-old nephew, John Prior.

Miss Prior taught for 40 years at St Augustine's School, Darlington, and was a member of St Thomas Aquinas Church.

After she retired in 1960 she was one of the early volunteers at the Mayor's Charity Shop, in Darlington, where she worked until 1993.

Miss Prior, is the youngest of 13 children. She is descended from a family who emigrated from Ireland during the Potato Famine to work on the Stockton and Darlington Railway.

She said: "I've had a lovely weekend seeing my relatives and I got nearly 50 cards."