A HEREFORDSHIRE woman with five generations of her family living in the county has celebrated her 100th birthday.

Ethel Stephens, from Almeley, was certainly not short of cards and gifts from her seven children, 11 grandchildren, 15 great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild when she celebrated her century.

Almost all her relatives have remained in the county and many were present at the family home for a special birthday party.

Those that attended included her 91-year-old "baby" sister, Doris, and her great-great-grandson, Ethan.

Ethel still has some way to go to beat her mother though as she passed away two days before her 105th birthday.

Having left her Upper Hill School aged 14, Ethel went into service in Herefordshire and Birmingham.

In 1933, she married George, who worked locally in the railway industry, at Hope under Dinmore Church before moving into a house at Bearwood, just west of Leominster, where they began their large family.

The couple were married for 40 years until George's death in 1973. During that time, the couple moved into their house in Almeley, where Ethel still lives with three of her children.

She said she would like to thank her family and friends who sent many flowers and cards to mark her special day.