A former tax collector and pie maker has put down her longevity to a determination to just get on with things and never giving up.

Staff at Hadleigh Nursing Home this week helped Evelyn Amos celebrate her 101st birthday with a cake and gifts.

Evelyn, who was born on March 30, 1920 in Ilford, Essex and grew up in Barkingside with her two sisters and brother who sadly died at the age of 18.

She met and married Fred in 1939 and stayed happily married until he passed away in 1999.

They had four children, one girl and three boys and has grandchildren and great grandchildren all around the world.

Evelyn worked most of her career for the Inland Revenue in London and then in Colchester.

Later in life she worked for Harris, the bacon and pie producer in Ipswich.

Prior to moving to Hadleigh Nursing Home, in Friars Road, Hadleigh, in May last year Evelyn lived in Little Blakenham.

When asked her secret to long life she said: "Just carry on and don't give up, to be honest I blinked and I was here at 101."