A former naval servicewoman puts her survival to the grand old age of 100 to “just good luck”.

Elsie Steele joined the WRNS at HMS St Vincent on the day war was declared in September 1939.

She was “well and truly bombed” while based at Gosport in Hampshire.

After that, she was deployed to Africa.

Mrs Steele celebrated her birthday with friends, family and fellow members of the Methodist church at Radway Lodge, where she lives.

The centenarian was also visited by the chairman of the HMS St Vincent Association.

She has lived in Sidmouth for some time, but is originally from Portsmouth.