A WOMAN believes clean living and breathing in country air is the reason she has reached the ripe old of age of 102.

Olive Webster celebrated her birthday at the Essendene Residential Home in Runcorn Road, Barnton, on Wednesday surrounded by friends and family.

She was born in Manchester in 1906, the eldest of three children born to Mary Jane and James Mills.

She married Frank Webster and moved to Gibb Hill in Antrobus with her husband in the 1930s.

Frank's parents lived in a little cottage in Hall Lane, Antrobus, which is where Olive gave birth to her daughter Cynthia.

Her husband designed and built a house across the road from his parents cottage, and a few years later their son Geoffrey was born in the finished house, which they named Woodlands.

Jackie Dennison, who is married to Olive's grandson Steve, said: "It was a big shock for Olive after being born and bred in a city as big as Manchester, to live in the country in a small community like Antrobus.

"However, it was in fact, this good clean living that she now owes to her longevity."

Olive adapted well to country life, living off the land and breathing good clean air. She walked everywhere and would think nothing of walking from Antrobus to Northwich and back with shopping.

Jackie said: "She tells a wonderful tale of her father-in-law wanting some tarpaulin to cover a shed roof. He had no means of getting this from Northwich.

"Olive however, had every intention of getting it for him, and she carried it on her shoulders all the way from Northwich to Antrobus."

She was extremely popular with all of the villagers who were sad to see her leave the little village following ill health, to reside at Essendene Residential Home in Barnton.

Olive is loved by all the staff and fellow residents at Essendene. She still walks about on her own, and enjoys her cup of tea and a biscuit.

Her daughter Cynthia and two of her grandaughters live in America.

Her son Geoffrey, grandson and great grandson live in Malta, and she has a grandaughter living in Dubai, and another in Scotland.

Her daughter and grandaughters from America came to spend Christmas with Olive, but were unable to join her for her birthday. Her son Geoffrey and his family have flown here to be with her.

Olive's good friend Betty Hamlett, who visits her every day, made her a birthday cake to celebrate her life.