A FORMER fire service and NHS worker has celebrated her 100th birthday.

Lily Gaskell marked her century with a party thrown by staff at the Church View residential care home, in Church Street, Oswaldtwistle, while the mayor of Hyndburn presented her with flowers and a letter from the Queen.

The mayor, Cllr Marlene Haworth, went to see Mrs Gaskell, a keen bowls player until her 96th birthday, on the morning of her birthday before her various family members visited and gave her gifts.

She said: "I read the card from Her Majesty to Lily and it was absolutely wonderful. I thought she was amazing.

"These are the events that make being mayor so wonderful. Going out and meeting all these people is so nice, I love it."

Mrs Gaskell, who has survived her late husband Tom, and son David, then enjoyed a 'few drinks' of Irish cream as the party going into full swing.

Ladies from the theatre company, The GOs on Tour, dressed in various costumes from the 1940s onwards and thrilled residents with their performance, while a birthday cake specially baked by staff was served alongside a buffet.

Church View manager, Emma Hine, said so many family members turned up to help mark the momentous occasion the home ran out of chairs.

She said: "People were sitting on the floor. Lily really enjoyed herself."

Mrs Gaskell has been living at the home for the past two years.

She said: "She is very talkative and loves having a chat. She will talk about anything with anybody.

"She's just a likeable, friendly lady who enjoys your company and being sociable.

"She also loves Shaun the Sheep from Wallace and Gromit."

Born on June 12, 1915, Mrs Gaskell was born and raised in Oswaldtwistle, attending St Paul's Primary School.

During the Second World War, she worked for the fire service before later working for the NHS at Rishton, Accrington, and Clayton-le-Moors clinics.

And remarkably, she played captained Rhyddings Park Veterans bowling team until her 96th birthday, and also enjoyed playing tennis, walking, fishing, and gardening.

Alongside her husband, Mrs Gaskell would travel on a barge on the Lancaster Canal, and would travel across the north west on the bus.