A resident at a care home in Epsom has celebrated her 100th birthday and revealed the secret to a long life.

Birthday celebrations were in full swing at Appleby House on Longmead Road when resident Jessie McLennan celebrated her 100th birthday.

Jessie turned 100 years ‘young’ on December 30, and said the trick for reaching her centenary was surrounding herself with people who make her happy.

To celebrate her milestone birthday, Jessie was joined by fellow residents for a party hosted by the team at the care home, including a bespoke cake created by Coughlans Bakery.

Shona Bradbury, home manager at Appleby House, said: “Residents are at the heart of everything we do here at Appleby House, and we always like to make an occasion of birthdays.

“To celebrate Jessie’s birthday, we held a special party here at the home, and it was lovely to celebrate with the residents, for what is a wonderful milestone!”

Jessie was born in 1917 in Ewell, and has fond memories of the house she grew up in with her parents and brother.

After working as a telephonist during the war, Jessie went on to work at the Ewell Telephone Exchange until retirement.

Her favourite pastime is to write – and she particularly enjoys keeping a journal. Jessie loves all animals, but cats are her favourite, in fact her cat Freddie even featured on her birthday cake.

Jessie has lived at Appleby House care home since December 2014 after making lots of friends there whilst spending time in respite care.