One of the south's oldest residents has celebrated her 106th birthday at a Hampshire care home.

When Mabel Looker was born in 1915, the First World War was less than a year old, most British homes were still lit by gas and cinema was a new craze.

Mabel, who lives at the Belmore Lodge care home in Lymington, has no idea why she has managed to live to such a great age.

“I would love to know the answer myself," she said.

Mabel’s big day included a Covid-safe visit from her daughter, Janet Morley. Staff serenaded her with a rendition of Happy Birthday as well as serving bubbly and homemade marzipan cake - her favourite.

They also presented her with a glass ornament depicting a Spitfire.

It brought back happy memories of a helicopter ride she took at the age of 98, when she flew alongside one of the iconic aircraft as it soared over the white cliffs of Dover.

Mabel was born in Manchester but moved to Swansea and later to Bournemouth, where her parents opened a guest house.

She was a teenager when she met her future husband, Cyril, at a youth club in St John’s Church, Boscombe.

They married during the Second World War and went on to have two children. After completing wartime service in the RAF, Cyril became chief clerk in the borough surveyor’s office in Christchurch.

Mabel worked at a laundry in Pokesdown before becoming a cook in Bournemouth and then a home help.

In her spare time she knitted thousands of soft toys for charity. She also enjoyed gardening, cricket and visits to Salisbury racecourse.

One of her happiest holiday memories is of going on a cable car trip to the top of the iconic Table Mountain in South Africa.

Mabel lived at Highcliffe before moving to Belmore Lodge, which is run by Colten Care.

Julie House, the home's manager, said: “Mabel is a remarkable lady who is kind, amusing and young at heart.

"It was a great privilege to help her celebrate her 106th birthday with lots of fun and smiles, and of course the chance to reflect on her experiences and memories of a life well lived.”