EVA Clapham hit a high note in more ways than one yesterday when she celebrated her 105th birthday with family and friends.

Organist Roland Brown was called to the Gardens Nursing Home, in Darlington, for the occasion so that Eva could sing along to favourites such as When Irish Eyes Are Smiling and Roll Out The Barrel.

Three generations of family attended the party and the home's activities organiser Enid Hyde said: "It's been very nice. She's enjoyed it."

Eva was born in Aycliffe Village, near Darlington, and helped her father on numerous building sites during the First World War, because many of the men were away fighting.

She moved to London shortly before the Second World War, but returned to the region during the Blitz and settled at Heighington, near Darlington.

During her time there, she became a part of the community, singing in the church choir and making wine for sale at village fairs.

In 1995, she moved to the nursing home in Pondfield Close.