A TOT of rum helps 100-year-old Ivy Myers get going in a morning. Ivy celebrated reaching the century mark on Sunday by enjoying her 100th birthday party at Walverdene Home for the Elderly, Nelson, with staff and other residents.

The occasion was a good excuse to enjoy another shot of rum, Ivy's favourite tipple and the possible secret to her old age, staff at the home suggested, only half jokingly. "She enjoys a tot with her tea in the morning and she knows exactly how much should be left in the bottle," said a member of staff.

Ivy was born the youngest of seven children in Haworth, West Yorkshire, but moved to nearby Keighley when she was a child. She lived for a short time in a pub and attended school in the town.

At 12 she began to work part-time and left school altogether at 14, to work in an underwear factory.

She married her late husband, Jack, at 18 and later moved to Nelson to work in a weaving shed off Every Street. She lived in her own home until she was in her 90s and moved to Walverdene in 1996. Ivy had no children and has no surviving close relatives.

The Mayor of Pendle, Councillor Edwina Sargeant, visited Ivy yesterday to wish her a Happy Birthday and Ivy also received a telegram from the Queen.

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