Lowestoft born and bred Eva Bessie Jenner has celebrated her hundredth birthday alongside her family and friends.

She attributes her longevity to good food and having a daily glass of Guinness until she was 94, when she switched to wine instead.

She spent the day with her family including her two sons, five grand children and seven great grand children.

Eva was born in 1915 at Essex Road where she lived until she married Gilbert 'Paddy' Welch in 1937.

They lived in the town until 1942 when Mr Welch was called up for Army service and Eva moved with her eldest son, Patrick to Blundeston to be with her parents for the duration of the war.

Her husband was declared 'missing presumed dead' but in 1943 was found to be a prisoner of war in Java, Indonesia.

During the war Eva worked as a land army girl for local farmers until her husband returned home in 1946 and their second son, Michael, was born two years later.

She and her husband went on to reopen a butcher's shop in Kirkley Street which had been closed during the war.

Mr Welch passed was in 1958 after suffering a heart attack.

Eva married Jim Jenner in 1975 and they spent nine happy years together before he passed away in 1986.

She moved to East View Residential Home in Pakefield where she continues to reside today.

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