ONE of the North-East's oldest residents has died aged 107.

Bella Morton, a former postwoman, had lived at Peterlee Nursing Home, Peterlee, County Durham, for the last ten years.

She was born on November 22, 1893, at Wellfield Station, and walked the six miles to school at Castle Eden each day.

Her family later lived at Hesleden and she worked in service in Hartlepool during World War One.

She later worked as a nanny and then became a postwoman, covering Blackhall Rocks, Shotton, Hutton Henry and Castle Eden.

She married her husband Albert in 1947, but he died in 1953. They had no children.

At the home, despite failing sight, she liked to keep busy, and enjoyed the home's bingo sessions.

The home's matron Veronica Turner said Bella, known as Aunty Bella, was well-known and would be greatly missed.

"We don't know if she was the oldest person in the North-East - we haven't been able to find out for definite - but she must be among the oldest.

"She was like a mother to all the girls here. Even on Sunday she was singing."

Funeral arrangements have yet to be made.