MABEL Saunders celebrated her 101st birthday with a surprise cake and a glass of sherry with friends and family.

Mrs Saunders enjoyed her milestone birthday at a care home in Buckingham Road, Bicester.

The birthday girl was joined by her son Raymond and his wife Gillian, as well as about 20 residents and staff at Cherwood House Care Centre, where she has lived for just over a year.

Mrs Saunders, who has two sons, Raymond and Norman, three grandchildren, Linda, Jane and Richard, and four great grandchildren, Ellen, Anthony, Mark and Sophie, received flowers and cards and enjoyed a helping hand from care assistant Mary Latty, who helped her blow out the candles on her sponge cake.

She said: "Nobody breathed a word. What a lovely surprise. I have enjoyed my time here - everyone is so nice and friendly."

Residents were treated to a coffee morning at the Red Lion pub in Steeple Aston.