A GREAT-GRANDMOTHER who helped the effort during the Second World War has celebrated her 100th birthday.

Mary Fisher, of Lime Court, Dovercourt, marked her special day with more than 25 members of her family, including two children, four grandchildren and four great-grandchildren, on Tuesday.

The centenarian received around 30 cards on her big day, including one from the Queen, and enjoyed a slice of birthday cake which had been specially made for her.

Son John Fisher, 71, said she had enjoyed the day. He said: “She’s an incredibly strong lady.

“She was born at 18 West Street in Harwich in 1918, one of 12 children. She was always the strongest one.

“Up until October she was still living in her home in Harwich, with a carer visiting her.

“During the Second World War she worked in an ammunition factory in Yorkshire.

“And during the 1953 floods she saved my father’s parents. They were in our front room and when the front door broke down she actually went downstairs and got the both of them upstairs.”

A family member visits Mrs Fisher every day at Lime Court, and staff at the care home put on a buffet so she could celebrate her birthday on Tuesday.

Mr Fisher said: “She gets more visitors than everybody else. We think she has lived a hard life so she deserves it.”