FORMER sub-postmistress Mollie Tipper celebrated a milestone anniversary with flowers, gifts and plenty of cards from well-wishers - including the Queen.

Mollie, a resident at Croft House residential care home in Williton, marked her 100th birthday with a quiet tea with her sons and daughters-in-law, Geoffrey and Carol Tipper and David and Dorothy Tipper.

Mollie was born in Petersfield, Hampshire, where she married her husband Ted in June 1939.

But she has lived in West Somerset for the past 45 years, after moving to the district with Ted to run Monksilver post office and general store.

Sadly, he died in 1982 but she continued to live in Cherry Tree Way, Watchet, until she moved to Croft House in 2009.

Mollie had a range of interests and hobbies in her younger days, including singing in the Women's Institute choir.

She was also a keen and accomplished knitter of Aran sweaters and a prolific painter of landscapes and flowers, being a member of the Minehead Painters Group for many years.

She currently has seven grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren.

Photo: Steve Guscott