Taking pride in your home and yourself is the secret to a long life.

That’s according to care home resident Ellen Durham who celebrated her landmark 100th birthday with a glass of champagne at Birchwood Heights in Hilda May Avenue, Swanley.

Her great niece Stephanie Pugsley said: “We had a wonderful celebration. It was elegant and low-key, just like her. The staff at the home understood that perfectly.

“Family has always been hugely important to her so it was wonderful we could be there to celebrate with her.

“Ellen always made sure her home was spotless when we went to see her. She enjoyed being a housewife and took such pride in maintaining her flat.

“She actually loved housework. Every surface always shone. She always said in later years housework kept her fit and mobile.”

Ellen was one of eight children and was born in Bermondsey, southeast London, where she lived all her life until moving into the Kent care home two years ago.

The centenarian lived through the Blitz, spending many nights sheltering in the Elephant and Castle underground station before heading straight to her job in a factory that she did throughout the war.

She loved to go dancing on a Saturday night at the town hall, which is where she met her husband, Harry, and enjoyed holidays on the Isle of Sheppey where she and her sisters had caravans.

Birchwood Heights offers residential, nursing, memory and respite care and its lifestyles manager, Theresa Doody, said Ellen keeps a keen eye on the home’s housekeeping.

She added: “Luckily, we have the same standards as Ellen, otherwise she would probably ask for a duster.

“As a very calm, dignified lady, we knew that her birthday party needed to be in the same vein and we are delighted that we could organise a small gathering in our private dining room for her.”

Ellen, who turned 100 on August 24, celebrated her birthday with a small family party and afternoon tea.