Hard work, long hours, early mornings and early nights are the key to a long life according to centenarian Joyce Brown.

Joyce recently celebrated her 100th birthday at Nant Y Mor extra-care housing in Prestatyn with a huge five-day party. She was visited by family and friends and was taken for a surprise lunch and a celebratory church service.

"I never expected to reach this age," she said. "But I think that the key is keeping busy. Hard work, long hours and early to bed, early to rise have always been my secrets to good health."

Joyce was originally born in Glossop in Derbyshire's Peak District in 1924, but her father believed coastal living was good for you so moved the family first to Rhos-on-Sea, then Colwyn Bay.

When she was 15 war broke out across Europe.

In World War II everyone played their part and Joyce took on the role of wages clerk in a munitions factory.

"I enjoyed that," she said. "You felt like you were part of something important, that your job mattered, because it did."

Seven years after the war, aged 27, she settled down with her first husband and enjoyed a 27 year marriage before, sadly, her husband passed away. She remained a widow and brought up their son alone before finding a new love and remarrying aged 64. 

Unfortunately after 16 happy years of marriage her second husband also passed away. 

Widowed for a second time, Joyce made the move to Prestatyn where she has enjoyed life for the last 20 years. 

And even at 100 she is determined to stay busy, keeping the Nant Y Mor staff and her three granddaughters on their toes.