“Everything in moderation, except for clothes shopping!” - that is the key to a long and happy life according to centenarian Betty Patchett.

Mrs Patchett, a resident at The Old Vicarage Care Home in Allithwaite, near Grange-over-Sands, made the remarks as she celebrated her 100th birthday on March 16 with family, friends and staff.

Betty has always loved clothes shopping, so as a birthday surprise the care home arranged for local clothes store Davenports to bring in a selection of clothes, so she could choose a present from the care home team.

Kamal Siddiqi, owner of The Old Vicarage Care Home where Betty has been a resident since December 2017, said: “Betty is warm, funny, friendly and no nonsense – a typical Yorkshire woman!

“She always likes to take part in the activities at the home and her favourites are singing, tai chi, knitting, and playing scrabble.

“We were delighted to host Betty’s birthday celebration at the home and support her family in arranging the party.

“Betty was overjoyed that so many of her friends and family members made the trip from all over the UK to mark this special occasion with her.”

A grandmother and great grandmother, Betty was born in Bradford on March 16, 1919.

She moved to Grange-over-Sands in 1999 to be close to her sister, Peggy Cockcroft who was also a resident at the care home from 2006 until she passed away in 2009.

Leaving school at age 14 to attend secretarial school, Betty worked as a secretary for most of her life. She married Kenneth Broadly, and the couple had one daughter, Elizabeth.

During the party, Betty looked back at old photos, showing her great niece, nine-year-old Ellie Chapman, a picture of her when she was in her twenties that her husband Kenneth carried with him throughout World War II.

Following her first husband’s death, she later married Arthur Patchett.

Betty has two step-children from her second marriage, Ruth and Michael.

Later in life she moved to Grange after Arthur passed away. She has seven grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

“If you live around Grange and don’t make it to 90, you aren’t trying!” Betty also joked as guests toasted her special birthday with bubbly.

The lounge and dining room at The Old Vicarage care home was decorated with balloons and banners to celebrate the milestone birthday.

The 19-bed care home is in the village of Allithwaite, just over a mile from Grange, a popular town with the over 60s.