FIVE generations of a Vale family came together to celebrate a remarkable milestone.

Albert Weeks was joined by dozens of his relatives aged from ten-weeks upwards to mark his 100th birthday.

Mr Weeks, who has lived in Heathlands, Pershore, since the year 2000 reached his centenary in good health, despite the death of his twin brother Ivor 35-years-ago.

For most of his working life Mr Weeks worked down the mines in Wales and moved to the Vale to be near his brother's family when he retired from his life of hard work.

His great-nephew-in-law Brian Cooper, who organised the family get-together on Friday, said it was wonderful to see him with his great-great-great-nephew Joseph. "We had dozens of people come round to help us celebrate our uncle's big day," he added.

Mr Weeks, whose birthday was on Saturday, May 29, often used to visit his brother in the Vale before his moved to the area. "Perhaps the secret of his long life is that he was always very active, he used to cycle all the way from Wales to Evesham," said Mr Cooper, a factory manager from Offenham. "Also, because they both grew up in a house in the Welsh mountains with no water or central heating, they were both very tough."

Helen Saunders, who looks after Mr Weeks at Heathlands said he always liked to talk about his old life back in Wales. "He can be really funny at times, he is a bright soul with a wonderful sense of humour."