FRIENDS and family of a Weymouth great-grandmother gathered at her home to celebrate her 100th birthday.

Centenarian Dorothy Fallows was visited by her large family at Ingleside Residential Home in Weymouth where she was showered with flowers and cards.

Mrs Fallows has three children, seven grandchildren and six great-grandchildren, including 18-month-old Poppy.

Her children say her secret to a long and happy lifestyle is always keeping busy, and until several years ago she was constantly in the garden.

One of her daughters recalls her climbing up the trees to get the apples at the age of 70.

Mrs Fallows was born in Yorkshire where she began her teaching career at a secondary school before she and her husband moved to Gloucestershire during the war.

Here she had three children, David Fallows, 65, Catherine Irving, 69, and Patricia Bryden, 72, and went on to teach needlework and mathematics once the children were old enough.

She moved to Weymouth and moved in with her daughter Catherine in Coniston Crescent before moving into Ingleside. Catherine said: “She is just incredible. She has taken the lead in so many ways. She has been active in guides, country dancing, she founded a bowling club, she is a wonderful cook and a great teacher.

“At the age of 81 she jumped on a bus at Ross-on-Wye and got off at Birmingham to visit her first great grandchild, Jamie, who is now 20.

“All the staff at Ingleside say they wish they were all like Dorothy because she really is so sweet. She’s much loved by us all.”