Marjorie Fox celebrated her 100th birthday on Sunday by taking 24 friends and family out to lunch.

Mrs Fox said although there were some sad things about turning 100 she mostly just feels fortunate.

"I'm extremely lucky to have such a good family and such a good home, where we have companionship every day," she said.

"Not that I shall alter overnight, but it was strange to think that I wasn't going to know anybody else who was the same age as myself."

Mrs Fox, who lives at Abbeyfield House on Queens Road, Ilkley, said that she loved children and taking care of her family has given her the happiest days of her life.

Her two sons live in the south of England now with families of their own, and she also has a 15-year-old great granddaughter and a 12-year-old great grandson.

She said she particularly enjoys watching the children across the road at Ilkley pre-school playgroup from her window.

"I love to see them coming to school and running on ahead," she said.

She is still fit and active and attributes this to a lifelong passion for exercise. When her youngest son flew the nest she took up archery and became a proud Bowman of Adel for ten years. In recent years she has been keen on yoga, but is looking for a new hobby now that she is slowing down.

She is determined to keep her mobility, however, saying: "When I moved here two years ago, Queens Road seemed very steep, but I got out and deliberately walked up and down the hills and now I can go down to Ilkley and back up again.

"I wish I could walk further so I could go down to the river, but I do that with my son - we go adventuring when he visits," she said.