WHEN Lily Hardy moved to the North-East there was no electricity, no running water and only a few roads linked the communities.

Although she has witnessed huge changes over the decades, Ms Hardy, who celebrated her 102nd birthday this week, has found no difficulty in keeping up with the times.

With her mobile phone at hand, she described how she keeps in frequent touch with her grandchildren in the south of England and her "baby" sister Winnie Jarrett, who is only 98.

Ms Hardy only moved into Glendale House residential home, in Blackhall Colliery, County Durham, in April, after the sudden death of her daughter, 82-year-old Joan Thompson.

Now a great favourite with the staff, she keeps herself busy and when she is not chatting to relatives and friends on her phone, she occupies her time making soft toys for the Kidney Research Fund.

Born in 1903, Ms Hardy moved with her parents to Blackhall in 1910 when her father was appointed as the first electrician at the pit.

At that time there were only a couple of shops and a few rows of houses.

"We had no electricity and no running water. We had to go to a central tap each day with buckets to carry water back to the house,'' she said.

"And as there were no roads from the village, we had to trespass along the railway line to get to Horden.''

After leaving school at 13, Ms Hardy got a job as a telephonist, connecting calls between Blackhall, Horden and Shotton collieries.

It was while working there that she met her husband, Sydney, a surveyor, who also played for Hartlepool United.

Ms Hardy has three grandchildren and six great grandchildren and celebrated her birthday this week at Seaham Hall hotel.

Still in good health she admitted, however: "There are some days I do feel my age.''