GREAT-great grandmother Mrs Alice Jones celebrated her 100th birthday with her namesake little Alice Parr aged four.

Young Alice is Mrs Jones' great-granddaughter who visits her regularly at St Catherine's Care Home in Horwich to entertain her with her dancing. "My mother has always loved music," explained Mrs Jones' daughter, Mrs Maureen Bolton, aged 66.

"She loves singing, especially 'Please Release Me' by Engelbert Humperdinck and even sang this with the Mayor when he visited her for her birthday!"

The party at St Catherine's, which has been home to Mrs Jones for the past five years, was really enjoyed by the former mill worker as family and friends - including a surprise visit by relatives from Scotland - joined with the Mayor of Horwich, Cllr Richard Silvester, to wish her well.

Mrs Jones was born in Deane, one of 10 children, and left school at 14 to go into Marsh Fold Mill as a ring-spinner. She met her future husband, Teddy, when she was out dancing, and the couple had 53 happy years together before Teddy died in 2001.

They had one daughter, two grandchildren, five great-grandchildren and two great-great grandchildren.

Mrs Jones lived in Avondale Street in Bolton before ill-health forced her to move into St Catherine's. Here, as Mrs Bolton explained, she loves to see family and friends - "she's got a great memory and never forgets to ask about everyone's children and remembers all their names.

She's not seen the relatives who came to the party from Aberdeen for 20 years but she knew all their names straight away."

Mrs Jones received a card and telegram from the Queen - which have been put in a handsome frame to remind the centenarian of her special day.

The Bolton News: