Being lively is the key to a long life, says Vera Manning who just celebrated her centennial birthday.

The care home resident at Gardenia House in Dartford turned 100 on Thursday – despite never thinking she would reach the milestone.

Vera – who was born in Bexleyheath – said she puts her longevity down to "pretty good health and being lively" all her life.

Vera used to work at American medical research company Burroughs and Wellcome and taught evening dance classes with her husband Stan.

She and Stan married in 1952 and they moved to Green Walk in Crayford before living in Myrtle Road, Dartford, two years later.

Vera has fond memories of holidays in the Canary Islands where she recalled one visit where a parrot looked her up and down before asking "what do you want?"

She still keeps up her lively lifestyle at the Farnol Road care home and said she enjoys being outside in the sun, tennis and dancing.