A great-grandmother of nine hailed as the oldest lady in Wickham Bishops will celebrate her 103rd birthday today - with a tipple at her local pub.

Sylvia Blagrove, of Kelvedon Road, was born on 26 July 1911 and still visits the Chequers in The Street to be made a fuss of by the regulars.

Mrs Blagrove is affectionately known as 'Mach 2 Gran' after once flying at twice the speed of sound in a Concorde.

When asked what her secret was to reaching a ripe old age, she said: "It is good health, good friends and family - and being well looked after by my daughter in law Wendy."