ONE of the oldest residents in the North-East has celebrated her 105th birthday surrounded by her close-knit family.

Jeannie Pattison spent the afternoon with her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren at Howlish Hall Nursing Home, in Coundon, County Durham.

The pensioner, who has lived in the Bishop Auckland area for more than 50 years, told visitors stories from two world wars and of her time in service at The Grove, in Hamsterley, a place she talks of fondly.

She is still fighting fit and lived in her own home until just over two years ago when she moved to Howlish Hall.

She said: "I don't know how I have lived this long. I drink hot water on a morning when I get up and when I go to bed. Maybe that has something to do with it or maybe it is down to hard work."

Born in Inverness, she moved to Scarborough aged three months with her parents, and stayed until she was a teenager, witnessing the bombing of the town in the First World War.

She then worked in service at Hamsterley and stayed at Castle Howard before marrying husband Bill when she was 21.

Her mother, brothers and sisters emigrated to New Zealand but she stayed in England.

She had six children, four of whom survive, and has 15 grandchildren, 25 great- grandchildren and three great-great grandchildren.

Her daughters, Marjorie Graham, 77, Jean Meek, 75, and son Bill Pattison, 72, said their mother was the best that anyone could ever have.

Mrs Graham said: "She is very well loved by us all. We think she is wonderful. She is the best mum and all of her grandchildren love her."