A woman from Watford who recently turned 101 is "still very active and intends to stay that way" according to her son-in-law.

Sylvia Sleefrig, who lives in Salters Gardens, celebrated her birthday on Tuesday, January 20 with her son-in-law, John Morren, and her granddaughter with a meal at Raymond Blanc's restaurant in Berkhamsted.

Mr Morren, of Cassiobury Drive, said: "We all had a wonderful time at Brasserie Blanc. Myself and Sylvia's granddaughter, my daughter, all live in Watford, and within walking distance, so we see Sylvia quite frequently.

"My wife, Glenda, Sylvia's daughter, sadly died, so Sylvia has outlived her daughter."

Mrs Sleefrig, who was born in Birkenhead, spent time working in Malaysia as a nanny in her earlier years. She then returned to England in 1939 and around the same time married Bart Sleefrig. She then brought up her only child Glenda from 1940. In 1947 the family moved to Africa where she took up work as a secretary.

The family returned to England in 1950 where they moved to various places in the South of England, such as Harlow, and Mrs Sleefrig continued working as a secretary.

Nowadays, Mrs Sleefrig is an active member of the University of the Third Age movement and regularly attends meetings with them. She has three grandchildren and two great grandchildren.

Mr Morren added: "Sylvia still walks into town centre by herself. She's well known in the market place, particularly at the fish stalls - they always look after her. I also own a house in Northern France and up until last year she would go there on the Euro Star by herself.

"She's still very active and intends to stay that way."