Marion Wood celebrates her 110th birthday

One of Britain's oldest people has celebrated her 110th birthday.

Elspeth Marion Wood celebrated her birthday at the nursing home where she lives on Wednesday.

Her son, Tony Wood, of Bentley Way, Stanmore, visits his mother every day and is happy she is celebrating another year.

The 71-year-old said: "She is a delightful person. When she turns on her smile everyone just melts.

"As far as I know she is the oldest person in Harrow and has been for a few years."

The mother-of-one has lived in the borough for more than 23 years, having moved to Uxbridge Road, in Hatch End, when she was 86.

Mrs Wood lived in the residential unit with a carer until November 2008, when she was moved to the Rowanweald Care Home, in Weald Lane, Harrow Weald, after she broke her hip.

Mr Wood said: "She started breaking her hips when she was about 100 years old.

"She is no longer mobile and she can't walk, but she has got all her marbles, she still tells jokes."

Mrs Wood has lived through two world wars and historical events including the first lunar landing (man on the moon).

Her son says she has a lot of interesting stories to tell.

Mr Wood said: "She was one of the ladies who could not go to university in her day so between 1917 and 1919 she was at a teacher training college learning to teach and she taught during the Second World War.

"She was a real Victorian baby."

The pensioner married in 1928 after meeting Herbert Wood, who was originally from Chester. He died in 1980 at the age of 83.

After 109 birthdays Mrs Wood is having a small party to celebrate her big day.

Her son said: "We are going to have a small celebration with some of her closest friends.

"I think her secret for living so long is the fact we all do our best to make her life enjoyable every day."