ACTIVE 100-year-old Dolly Steer was joined by family and friends on Monday for a lively party at the Winsor Nursing Home in Minehead to celebrate her birthday.

Dolly enjoys playing balloon tennis at the residential home and is considered as "very good" at skittles and carpet bowls by the staff.

Painting has been a hobby throughout her life and she still produces the odd masterpiece or two.

And she also enjoys watching her favourite television programmes and playing the occasional game of cards with the other residents.

Dolly, who was born in Hastings, was married to Harry and they had one son who unfortunately died four years ago.

He lived in Australia so Dolly's grandchildren and great grandchildren all reside Down Under. She also has a sister still living, although she was not well enough to celebrate Dolly's birthday.

Dolly's great niece Sally Pancheri and her husband Christopher both drove from Wiltshire for the special day and are pictured with her and her telegram from the Queen.

Dolly was a housewife until the 1970s when she took the plunge and decided run a guest house in Porlock.

She said she is extremely happy in Winsor Nursing Home, having lived there since October, and she could not praise the staff enough.

Photo: Steve Guscott.