A mother who has never left the country celebrated her 100th birthday at the weekend.

Winifred Wilson, of Robert Daniels Court in Theydon Bois, celebrated on Sunday with family from Essex, Middlesex and France.

The mother-of-five, who lived in Portabello Road for 52 years, said that her secret to a long life is having never tried alcohol or cigarettes.

Mrs Wilson, who has never left the country due to a fear of flying, was born in her family home in London during the First World War and lived at the address until 1966, with husband William James Wilson.

Her daughter Jill Morris, 57, from Middlesex, said: “Mum was brought up in a very poor family. Her mother used to take people's washing in for a living.

“I remember my grandmother said that she used to have to pawn the sheets of a large house she worked at just to feed the family, then when she was paid she would buy the sheets back and return them.”

During the Second World War, Ms Wilson was forced to evacuate her home and take shelter with two of her children and bomber planes flew over their home.

Mrs Morris added:  “Mums most prominent memory of that war is the siren going off and she had to run from the home.

“She remembers my sister running down the street holding a boiled egg from her tea.

“When they returned the neighbours home had been directly hit and their cooker was in the tree.

“It was an incredibly hard time for mum as dad was away as he was an army chef, but she got through it.”

Ms Wilson celebrated her 100th birthday with a party at Robert Daniels Court alongside staff, five children, nine grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.

Mrs Morris said: "it was a lovely day and mum really enjoyed herself.

"The weather was great  and it was fantastic to have  the family together, she was overwhelmed."