BIRTHDAYS may seem less and less important as you get older, but when you reach the ripe old age of 100 there is no excuse for not celebrating.

And that's exactly what Davenham Hall nursing home resident Nellie Jones did on Monday.

More than 60 friends and family members joined the Lancashire born-and-bred woman at the communal living room of her flat in Fountain Road, Davenham, to celebrate the momentous occasion.

Even the Queen wished her a happy time by sending a telegram.

Visitors toasted the guest of honour with sparkling wine before tucking into a very special birthday cake.

Nellie moved to Northwich when she was 24 to work at Leftwich bowling green. She met husband-to-be Norman, a former GPO linesman, there and the pair married two years later.

Soon afterwards they settled permanently in Davenham and had their only child Kay, now 70.

Nellie later worked in Madame Drinkwater's alteration shop in Northwich before retiring.

She has two grandchildren and four great grandchildren.