A retired secretary joked about having ‘another 100 years to go’ after celebrating her 100th birthday in Royston.

Babs Self, who has lived in Royston for 10 years but describes herself as a ‘true cockney’ from London, was presented with flowers at the Forget Me Not care home and sent a card from the Queen after reaching the milestone age.

Babs, who lives at home and regularly visits the town centre to do her shopping, said: “It’s brilliant to reach 100. I’ve promised everyone I’ll still be here next year.”

Babs visits Forget Me Not every Wednesday to take part in the bingo and quiz.

She said: “We all get on very well together. I really enjoy myself. We have a chat and a cup of tea, then we hope someone brings some cake – which usually turns out to be me.”

Forget Me Not chairman Barbara Charter said: “Babs is quite a character. She doesn’t take any nonsense, she’ll stand her ground. I call her five foot plonk. She’s quite a comic, she loves her quizzes. She makes me roar with laughter with her comments.”