A Brampton woman celebrated living for a century surrounded her loving family and friends.

Elizabeth McCluskey celebrated her 100th birthday with her loved ones at the Greenlane Care Home in Brampton, where she has been a resident for 12 years.

She cut the ribbon of the residential home's new sun room, which was filled with flowers, cards and a banner in honour of her birthday.

The birthday card from the Queen took pride of place next to her white iced birthday cake with a bright pink ribbon.

Her family travelled from all over the UK to be with her on her special day and enjoy afternoon tea and music on Thursday.

When she was born a century ago in Penton near the Scottish border, World War One was raging, George V was on the throne and the tallest building in the world was the Eiffel Tower.

She was born into a big family, with five sisters, and once said her proudest memory was learning to ride a bike before any of them.

Mrs McCluskey also had a big family of her own. She had six children with her husband George, who she married at St Nicholas Church, Penton when she was 19.

Her family has expanded and she now has two great grandchildren and one great great grandchild.

In her late teens she worked in service in various places and was the cook for Lord and Lady Carlisle at Boothby.

Her son Leslie McCluskey, 75, said she was a tremedous cook and baker.

He said: "She could make a meal or two out of an old boot."

She was practical and good at making things. Her family said she was always very active and never sat still.

At one time when she worked for a doctor in Carlisle, she used to cycle more than 30 miles to work.

When she was 18 she moved to Brampton and has lived in the village all her life.

Looking after six children was no mean feat and she was a hard worker, always washing, ironing, cooking and gardening.

Mr McCluskey died when Mrs McCluskey was only 40-years-old and she never remarried or had another partner.

Her family are delighted she has lived so long and are immensely proud of her.

"She's very placid," said her daughter Muriel Brierley, 68. "She's a very calm sort of person.

"You just keep your fingers crossed that she would [make 100]. It's marvellous really."

Claire Pratt, the manager at Greenlane Care Home, said Mrs McCluskey was a proper grandma figure in the home, who loved to sing and reminisce about the old days.