It was a very special day for one resident at a Dorchester care home.

Doris Jones celebrated her 100th birthday with a party at Care South's Maiden Castle House surrounded by friends and relatives, including her daughter, Sylvia, son-in-law and 10 grandchildren and great grandchildren, the youngest of which is just three-months-old.

Doris was delighted to receive a birthday telegram from the Queen. She was also presented with beautiful bouquets of flowers from the senior management team at Care South and the staff at Maiden Castle House.

Born in 1917, Doris was the second youngest of 10 children and lived in a small hamlet near Bristol with her mother and father, who was a farm worker.

From walking to school with her siblings every day, often stopping to eat hawthorn leaves in the summer, to getting a new pair of boots every year, she has fond memories of her family and childhood.

At age 13, Doris went into service, working at a manor house in Horfield near Bristol and she remained in the industry for a number of years.

In 1939, she married Gerald Townsend, who left shortly afterwards to serve in World War Two.

Unfortunately Gerald contracted tuberculosis of the spine, returning home unable to walk. Despite three years in hospital and being told he would never walk again, with Doris' help Gerald regained some mobility.

Doris and Gerald had a daughter, Sylvia, born in 1949.

Sadly Gerald passed away in 1970.

In 1971, Doris married her next door neighbour, Bill, and they moved to Chipping Sodbury, just three miles from Doris' birthplace, where she lived until his death, before moving on to Blandford Forum.

Asked the recipe to a long and healthy life, Doris praised the benefits of a good breakfast, said: "I'm often asked what my secret is, and always having porridge for breakfast has helped me to start the day the right way. If you start like that, things can only get better."

Doris added: "It was a lovely surprise to celebrate with my family and friends; I had a truly wonderful day. Thank you to everyone at Maiden Castle House for making my birthday so special."

Caroline Bacon, Home Manager at Care South's Maiden Castle House, said: "We were delighted to celebrate Doris' special birthday with her. She is a popular resident, much loved by staff and her family and always one of the first to get involved."