ALICE Smith celebrated her 100th birthday on Monday at Half Acre Nursing Home in Radcliffe with family and friends.

The former confectioner lived by herself in sheltered accommodation until last year but has now settled in at the home in Higher Ainsworth Road.

Mrs Smith was born in Didsbury in Manchester in 1905, and moved to Besses o' th' Barn when she married her husband, Francis, and lived there until 1963. She later lived in Bury, Haslingden and Whitefield, before moving to Radcliffe.

After she trained as a confectioner, widow Mrs Smith worked in a number of shops selling confectionery, pies and sandwiches. She continued to work until she was 75, when she was finally persuaded to retire!

Mrs Smith and her late husband had three children, Frank, Graham and Barbara. Mrs Smith has 11 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren.