AN adventurous pensioner who drove an ambulance during the Second World War is celebrating her 100th birthday today.

Winifred Arnoldi Oates, of Worcester, who has been known as Peggy most of her life, was born in the north of England to William Oates and Christina Arnoldi.

Her older sister was also called Christina.

"I don't know how she got the name Peggy, it might be the fact that when she was very young she had a nurse maid to look after her and they may have given her that name," said Peter Arnoldi, a cousin of Peggy's who lives in Toronto, Canada.

After her father died in 1918, she moved to London with her mother.

"She drove an ambulance during the London Blitz in the Second World War," said Mr Arnoldi, aged 79.

"She was also a nursing assistant for a while."

Peggy, who never married or had children, then moved to Herefordshire, before living in Malvern Wells after 1977.

She became a resident at Norton Hall Nursing Home, Norton, near Worcester in 2001 where she has been living since.

Mr Arnoldi has flown over from Canada to England to visit Peggy a number of times over the last 15 years, and last saw her at the start of this month.

He said long life ran in Peggy's family.

"Her mother died in 1952 and she was close to 100 years old. Peggy's aunt died when she was 103, and my father died at the age of 94 in a fire," said Mr Arnoldi, who has three children and two grandchildren.

Apart from Mr Arnoldi, Peggy's surviving family include Mr Arnoldi's sisters Mary Butler and Evelyn Bertram, and his brother Leycester Arnoldi.

Peggy is due to be joined today by residents and friends for a birthday bash at the home.