A woman who has dedicated almost 60 years of her life to a town celebrated her 80th birthday last week.

Letitia Berry of Epping, who has sang in Epping Church Choir for 42 years, celebrated her birthday with friends and family at a luncheon party last Thursday.

The 80-year-old, who moved to the town in 1957, worked for the council for 21 years before becoming Epping town mayor between 1985 and 1986.

She was also one of the founding trustee’s of fundraising for St Clares Hospice and a founding member of the Epping town twinning with Eppingen in Germany.

Mrs Berry said: "I had a lovely day and I wouldn't have wanted to celebrate my birthday any other way.

"I have served Epping for a very long time and I love the town, I wouldn't want to live anywhere else."