A WOMAN enjoyed celebrations for her 103rd birthday with her friends and family.

Kathleen Mansfield, of Catherline Miller House, Old Leigh Road, Leigh was also visited by the mayor and mayoress of Southend Derek and Valerie Jarvis.

She posed for pictures with the special guests as well as her family.

She said: "I do not have a very large family but had a couple of siblings.

"It doesn't feel very special to get to this age, a lot of people do I think, mostly men I think.

"I have memories of the war time. My husband was send off to war in about 1943 and he was gone for two years.

"It was difficult and we were like strangers when he came back from the war as he has been gone for so long.

"I was called up to be in the land army but was freed up to stay and work in a shop."