A Darlington woman celebrated her 100th birthday yesterday with family and friends.

Violet Archer, who has lived at the Adelphi Court sheltered accommodation in the town for 20 years, marked the day with a party at King William Community Centre.

Mrs Archer, who was born in Fern Street, in the Albert Hill area of Darlington, married her husband, Fred, on her 22nd birthday at St James' Church. She was widowed in 1950.

She has lived in Darlington all of her life and worked at Peases Mill when she left school, before later working as a cleaner and a canteen assistant at the School Furnishing Company.

Sandra Wetherell, warden at Adelphi Court, said: "Violet is a very fit and sprightly 100-year-old."