Fresh home cooking is the secret to long life, claimed a woman who celebrated her 100th birthday.

Emiline Lewis, 100, was joined by her daughters Cynthia Mercurius and Norma Hunt and her son Henry Lewis in her Thornton Heath home on Friday to celebrate her century.

Born in what was then British Guiana on the east coast of South America in 1909, Mrs Lewis emigrated to the UK in 1966.

At 57, she started working for numerous charities and took time out to look after her grandchildren.

Mrs Hunt said: “The UK has changed a lot since we first came over. It has evolved you might say. When we first came here my mum did a lot of charity work.”

Mrs Lewis credits her long life with keeping active, keeping her mind fit and praising God.

Mrs Hunt added: “My mum used to do a lot of home cooking, everything she cooked was fresh which is also why I think she has lived so long.”

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