A globe-trotting Cricklewood woman has celebrated her 100th birthday with a party attended by the Mayor of Barnet.

Great-grandmother Elsie Kate Green celebrated her centenary at the St Agnes Centre in Cricklewood Lane, last Monday afternoon.

A buffet lunch was served at the party, which was attended by Mayor of Barnet, Councillor Maureen Braun and more than 100 relatives and friends from around the UK.

Mrs Green's daughter Sylvia said: "She had a wonderful time and enjoyed meeting the lovely mayor, who complimented Elsie on her tremendous memory".

Her niece Margaret Duggan added: "It was just like a great big family gathering. Everyone was having a jolly time, they were very pleased, and everybody remarked on how good the food was."

Mrs Green was born in 1908, the eldest of 11 children, in Fuller Street, Old Hendon. She vividly remembers the Zeppelin air attacks during the First World War, and as a six-year-old she cared for her younger siblings while her mother went to work.

She married at 25 and began a family in the mid-Thirties.

After World War Two she joined the British Legion to help raise funds to help ex-servicemen and women. In the 1960s and 1970s Elsie began travelling, spending time with her daughters in Canada, the US and India.

Mrs Green named Barbados as "my favourite place I have visited", and continued to enjoy cruises until she was 90.

She has remained active in the past few years, enjoying shopping, cookery and going to the bingo three times a week with friends.

Mrs Green, who has lived in Hendon all her life, is the first person in her extensive family to reach 100.

She attributes her longevity to a love of walking, working hard and living an active life. She also offers readers one simple tip for living long and healthily: "Eat sensible food at regular times."