NEW Labour met old Labour as Pendle MP Gordon Prentice wished a party stalwart a happy 90th birthday during a visit to her Nelson home.

Elizabeth Landless, a lifelong Labour supporter, was Nelson's first woman Mayor and its first woman Alderman during her 30-year service as a councillor.

Mrs Landless, of Swinden Hall Road, Nelson, is also a former magistrate.

Mr Prentice visited her at home as she enjoyed her birthday celebrations, the day before the Queen Mother's 100th birthday.

"Elizabeth has contributed much during her long life, both to the Labour Party and to the local community and it is wonderful that I can join her in celebrating her 90th birthday," said Mr Prentice.

"What changes she has seen. I wished her happy birthday and many more to come."

Mrs Landless was born in Darwen and educated at the former St John's School in the town. Her family moved to the Midlands in the 1930s but when she married her first husband, Harry Kay, when she was 20 the couple moved back to Earby. They later moved to Nelson where Mrs Landless has lived for more than 50 years.

Her family's politics were always Liberal but she decided to "rebel" at a young age. "From the first time I could vote I voted Labour and I have done ever since," she said. "I agreed with their policies and everything they said made sense. "When I told my father he said 'well just don't tell your grandmother!'"

Mrs Landless is still as strong a Labour supporter as ever. "I like this Labour government," she said. "It's done a lot for older folk no matter what people say."

She served as a councillor for the former central ward in Nelson for two years before losing the seat. Three months later she won a by-election for Marsden ward and served the area for the remainder of her time on the council.

Elizabeth Kay, as she was then, was Mayor of Nelson in 1958/59. In those days Mayors were automatically made a magistrate. She had also formally applied to sit on the bench and two months after becoming Mayor Mrs Kay was also "officially" made a magistrate. She served at the former Nelson Court and then Reedley Magistrates Court for 22 years.

In 1966 Mr Kay died and six years later she married Harry Landless. He died in 1981.

Mrs Landless spent her working life serving in local shops including ten years at the former Nelson Co-op.

She has a son Thursdon Kay and daughter Betty, a grandson and grand-daughter, and two great grandchildren.