BIRTHDAY girl Margery Eckersall lapped up the life of luxury when she was treated to a limousine ride.

And the chauffeur-driven surprise was just reward for Margery as she was celebrating her 101st birthday!

Mrs Eckersall still lives in her own home in Prestwich and is described as "amazing" by her home care workers.

Up until recently Mrs Eckersall regularly played bridge and she is an honorary member of Prestwich Tennis Club and Prestwich Golf Club.

Born in Blackburn, she moved to Prestwich and married her late husband, George, at All Saints Church, Stand, in Whitefield.

Margery worked as a clerk for British Rail and was a dab hand at shorthand and typing.

She attributes her longevity to not letting anything get her down and she was certainly the life and soul of her own birthday party.

Margery's home care workers organised a meal at the Village Hotel and Squash Club in Prestwich on Friday (Nov 28) followed by a surprise ride in a white stretch limousine around Manchester to see the Christmas lights.

Senior home care worker for Bury social services, Maureen Davies, pictured helping Margery celebrate, said: "She had an absolutely fantastic time. She was so surprised to see the limo. We stopped in Albert Square in Manchester and she wanted to see Father Christmas, then she wanted to do it all over again!"

Mrs Eckersall said: "I enjoyed it very much indeed. They took me out at night and I was a giddy kipper! I have never been in a limo before. When I was a girl we had little waggonettes and wheelbarrows."