A 104-year-old great-grandmother celebrated her birthday with friends, family and the mayor.

Josephine Malarkey was born on December 18 in 1914, five months after the First World War began.

Born in Sunderland, then in County Durham, she was one of four siblings. Her mother died when she just six months old and her father was a soldier and later became a dentist.

Josephine says her father was abusive and spent most of her time being raised by her aunt, Sarah, who owned a fish and chip shop.

It was around this time that she met her late husband Jack when he was 14 and she was 15. They married nine years later and left Sunderland.

They gradually moved down to London and lived for some years in South Oxhey, eventually having children of their own.

Josephine is now the grandmother of 11 children and two great-grandchildren.

Ever cheeky and feisty, Josephine is considered a character at the Lancaster Care Home in High Road, Watford, where she now spends her days.

Josephine said: “I loved school when I was growing up and I liked to have lots of friends I would sing, and I was very happy.

“I loved my husband Jack, he was kind and he took me away from my father.

“He was a good husband and our daughter Joyce was born at the beginning of the war.

“My fondest memory is of Jack passing his driving test, he was always clever and a lovely man – we always were sweethearts.”

Speaking about the secret to a long life, she said: “The things that are important to me is being happy and loved.”