Beattie Ranson celebrated her 107th birthday yesterday, making her one of the oldest people in Northamptonshire.

Family and friends joined the birthday girl to mark the milestone with flowers, cards, presents and a birthday cake at the care home in Earls Barton where she now lives.

She said: "I am very happy to be here celebrating.

"I have had a telegram from the Queen and that was very nice to receive. Having everyone here to celebrate is very, very nice.

"I have had a happy life. You don't see it creeping up, you don't realise you're going to be 107."

Mrs Ranson was born in West Thurrock, Essex, and lived there until she moved to Northamptonshire in 1994 to be near her son Roy, who is now 83.

She said: "I have seen big changes in life. After World War One there were very big changes, some of it for the worse and some of it for the better.

I think we were happier then, you helped each other more.

"The kids used to get together and we all worked in a factory, we'd walk together and sing and shout and enjoy ourselves, it was lovely.

"We left school at 13 and then we worked hard. We seemed so happy in those days. You were just happy as long as you were together and helped each other, that was our life."

During World War One, Mrs Ranson worked in a factory which sent five gallon barrels of oil to the airport for bombers and in World War Two she worked in Boots. When the war ended, Mrs Ranson began working at the Co-op.

She married her husband Stephen in 1923 and the couple had two children, Roy and his sister Myrtle, now aged 85.

Mrs Ranson said: "I have lots of friends and family because when you were working with people you got to know them. I have been very happy."