Centenarian Dot Carey was thrilled to be joined by the town crier and mayor of Melksham to celebrate her landmark birthday yesterday.

The Melksham resident, who still lives in her own home, was adamant that if mayor Richard Wiltshire and town crier Peter Dauncey were attending her birthday party at the King’s Arms Hotel in Melksham then they should stay for the whole bash.

Shirley Wort, 59, Mrs Carey’s niece from Frome, said: “There were 27 of us altogether at the party and Dot had a great time. She was thrilled to have received a telegram from the Queen “She was toasted with champagne by the mayor and town crier who talked about her long and healthy life.

“She attributes it to healthy living and eating. She has always liked fresh fruit and vegetables and also has a fondness for sweet things.

“She has always loved salt too and put a lot on her food throughout her life. I know they say too much salt is bad for you, but it doesn’t seem to have done her any harm.

“It is incredible when you think that she has been alive for 100 years. She was one of five siblings and she is the only surviving one.”

Mrs Carey, a former weaver at a cloth mill in Trowbridge, has an adopted son, Terry, from her first marriage to Percy Lywood.

After Mr Lywood died, she remarried, aged 64, to Jack Carey, from Trowbridge, who died in 1993.