DANCE lover Sue spent her 100th birthday doing what she knows best - being the life and soul of the party.

Sue Bartholomey, a resident at Edensor Care Centre, in Clacton, toasted the milestone with daughter Jean and husband Ron Newfield, her grandchildren and friends.

It was a musical celebration with entertainment by Essex's Tessa Collitt, performing some of Mrs Bartholomey's favourite wartime tunes.

The grandmother, renowned for line dancing well into her nineties, opted against having a dance but thoroughly enjoyed her surprise party.

Daughter Jean said: "It was brilliant, the care home did a great job.

"I think mum knew they would plan something for her but she didn't want a lot of fuss made.

"We didn't get her up dancing but she did have a sip of Prosecco and loves chocolate, so her cake was the best gift."

Mrs Bartholomey was born in Paddington, London and grew up in Queen's Park.

During World War Two, she worked in payroll in an ammunitions factory in Ruislip, Middlesex, and RAF Northolt as an administrator before retiring with her late husband Eric in Holland-on-Sea, in the 1980s.

He died 22 years ago, aged 80 - but the pair had two daughters and three grandchildren.

As a young woman, Mrs Bartholomey loved nothing more than to spend her evenings on the dancefloor and once even ended up in the arms of big band legend Joe Loss.

Her 100th birthday party was the perfect nod to a woman who lived life to the max considering last year she survived an operation for a fractured hip.

Jean said: "She's quite remarkable for age, you'd never believe she was 100 - such a strong person.

"As far as all the stories she's told me, she was full of fun, dancing and staying up beyond hours. Although she was working her curfew was 10pm.

"She'd take her party dress to work and when she came back late, she'd change clothes in the outside toilet at the bottom of the garden and pay her brothers to open the window.

"You're talking about a penny but if she didn't have the money, they wouldn't let her in."