IT was party time at a Chester-le-Street old people’s home as one of its newest residents celebrated her 100th birthday.

Ada Dodd recently moved to the Pelton Grange Care Home in Front Street, Pelton, having previously lived at Durham County Council’s Mendip House in Chester-le-Street, which has closed.

She lived in Mendip House for a couple of years, moving there after fracturing her hip, which meant she could no longer live at home in Great Lumley, which she had done for several years.

Chester-le-Street-born Mrs Dodd, who was one of nine children. was a munitions worker during the Second World War and then became a dietician at Chester-le-Street Hospital before moving to Milburngate House in Durham, where she worked until her retirement.

In 1936 she married William Dodd, who was a council worker and who died 27 years ago. They had one daughter, Jean,

Mrs Dodd has five grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

Daughter Jean Douglas, who lives in Cumbria, and two of her daughters attended a party at the home for Mrs Dodd.

“We had a lovely time, a lovely party and she had a message of congratulations from The Queen. She was really pleased about that,’’ Mrs Douglas said.