SHE is the Hampshire centenarian who is a distant relative of the legendary Florence Nightingale.

Friends and family gathered at Challoner House Nursing Home in Chandler's Ford to mark Freda Foster’s 100th birthday.

Despite Freda’s advancing years she is in good health for her age and says one of the secrets to living a long life is eating honey every day.

Freda is one of ten children and she previously lived in North Baddesley, near Romsey. She worked as an understairs maid at Embley Park in Wellow, and later became a cook and worked in Brockenhurst.

She married at the age of 21 to her late husband Charles, who passed away at the age of 39, and they had three children together.

She is also a grandmother of seven and great grandmother of seven.

She told the Daily Echo at her delight when she got a letter from The Queen for reaching the milestone.

Ms Foster, said: “I thought the telegram was great, it was a bit of a surprise when they brought it in to me.”

Freda’s eldest son, Richard Foster,76, who lives in Elgin in Scotland said: “She is a wonderful lady and is a wonderful grandmother.”

Ms Foster enjoys watching TV gameshow The Chase and watching football and snooker.