A proud mother-of-six, with 48 grandchildren and great-grandchildren is celebrating her 105th birthday.

Hilda Davis is surrounded by friends and family at her home in Tallis Court, Waltham Abbey, today, as she welcomes the unexpected milestone.

Mrs Davis, who survived both World Wars and even gave birth to one of her children in a morrsion shelter in her home, is described by her family as a proud woman.

Daughters Wendy Hack, 77, and Carole Gower, 75, said that their mother devoted her entire life to caring for her family.

Mrs Gower said: “Bringing us up she always made sure that we were clean and tidy and went to church, she never told us off particularly.

“She lived for her family. Mum and dad weren’t the sort of people who really went out much, they always kept to themselves. Mum is very old fashioned.

“She had an ordinary life but this is an extraordinary landmark. She was obviously destined to live for this long.”

During the Second World War Mrs Davis’ husband was unfit for a tour of duty and worked as an air raid warden.

Mrs Davis and her six children would wait nervously in the shelter for him to come home when he was on duty.

The 105-year-old lived in Tottenham during the wars but moved to Waltham Abbey 30 years ago and enjoys visits from her 16 grandchildren, 30 great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren, who are now living across all parts of the country.