LAUGHTER and taking each day as it comes is the secret to a long life says a Vale of Evesham centenarian born on Halloween.

Annie Mortimer celebrated her 100th birthday on Thursday, October 31, but it was far from a scary occasion as there was singing, a huge cake and a lot of laughter.

The party took place at Greenhill Park Residential Home in Evesham, where Mrs Mortimer now lives.

Originally from Stalybridge in Cheshire, Mrs Mortimer went to Old St George’s Church of England school, leaving at the age of 14, when she began work in a tailors.

At 15, Mrs Mortimer went to Manchester Day Trade School to learn ladies’ tailoring and then went to work in the Ashton-under-Lyne General Hospital making and repairing nurses’ uniforms.

In 1938 she married Arthur Mortimer and they had a son, David. The pair moved to Penzance in 1957 and bought a guest house, where they stayed until 1981, when they retired.

Mrs Mortimer moved to live with her son and his wife Susan in 1993 in Cleeve Prior before heading to Greenhill Park Residential Home in 2009.

Her son David died in 2011 but Mrs Mortimer still sees her grandson Damian, who celebrated the milestone with her on Thursday.

She also revealed her secret to reaching 100 years of age.

“I just live each day as it comes,” she said. “I can’t stop laughing. I suppose that has helped me. I don’t really think about it.

“I have had a good life and today has been a good day. I have had all good birthdays but this is the jackpot. I was pleased to receive my telegram.”