Centenarians Hilda Atkinson and Dorothy Stimpson received congratulations from the Queen before celebrating their birthdays with family and friends.

Hilda was joined by 170 relatives and friends for a party at the Field Sports and Social Club in Hollingwood Lane, Horton Bank, Bradford.

Her niece Ann Banks said it was hard work and a good appetite that kept her going. "She's always loved her food, always had three meals a day," she said.

Hilda, of Buttershaw, moved to Brad-ford from Skipton when she was 15 and worked as a weaver in the Wade and Glyde factory in Springmill Street for 45 years before retiring aged 60.

The youngest of four children, Hilda had lived with her brother Fred and sister Eva all her life until they both died in 1984.

Bradford-born Dorothy was joined by her six grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren at Wyke Methodist Church for a birthday party yesterday.

Rebecca Grew, estate manager for Hanover Housing in Wyke where Dorothy lives, said: "She is a very family-oriented person and is hugely popular with the other residents here."

Dorothy was married in Bolton in 1929 and moved to Preston where she had three children. She moved back to Bradford in 1951 after the death of her husband.