SU61637-03.jpg A new arrival in Sutton has claimed the title of the borough’s oldest resident.

Ivy Hardy, who is 105, recently moved to Sutton to live with her granddaughter Christine Gaynor in Abbotts Road.

She was born on April 14, 1906, when King Edward VII was on the throne and the Wright Brothers patented their aeroplane.

She was born two months before Alfred Gibbens, who until now held the title of Sutton’s oldest resident.

But she said she did not hold the secret to long life.

She said: “I do not know what to say really. I worked hard all my life.

“I think I have just been lucky.”

Her grandaughter-in-law, Mrs Gaynor, said the 105-year-old still smokes the occasional cigarette.

The former nurse, who likes to crochet and used to enjoy dancing, has one child, aged 82, three grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren and nine great-great-grandchildren.

Mrs Hardy said she was already used to holding the title of the borough’s most senior citizen, as she was the oldest person in South Woodham Ferrers, near Chelmsford, where she lived alone until three weeks ago.

She used to work as a cashier and in a tailors, and has always been independent.

She has been able to live at home alone without help from social services.

Mrs Gaynor, who works at St Anthony’s Hospital in Cheam, said: “She is a wonderful lady who always makes us laugh and we are delighted to have her staying with us.

“To reach the age she has is a wonderful achievement.”