A GREAT-GRANDMOTHER has said staying happy is the secret to long life.

Agnes Roberts, who lives at the Weymes Lodge retirement home in Ermin Street, is 100 today and says she has managed to keep her chin up her whole life.

"I suppose I have had a very happy life," Agnes said. "I have only had one son and he is a very good lad."

Agnes lived in her own home until the age of 93 when she moved in with her son Brian, 73, after his wife died.

"He told me to sell my bungalow and come and live with him," she said.

"I came to live with him and that year was one of the happiest in my life.

"He used to do the washing and I would do the cooking.

"Then I would go and sit down while he did the washing up.

"He was starting to get much better and making new friends, and when he started talking about marriage, I decided it was time to leave."

Since the age of 95, Agnes has been living in the Stratton St Margaret retirement home and says she had nothing to complain about.

She said: "I'm very happy here and have never regretted coming here for a minute.

"The people are all very nice here and my family comes to see me fairly regularly."

Despite a few mobility difficulties and hearing problems, Agnes is still fighting fit and catches the bus when she goes out for a pub lunch once a week.

Her son Brian said: "I don't think she'll ever really slow down.

"I had to put a new tyre on her bike when she was gone 80.

"She used to go out on that every day."

Agnes said not being able to get out on her bike any more was the only downside to getting older.

Her granddaughter Niki O'Shea, 42, who lives in California, was visiting her grandmother with her sons Thomas, 11, and seven-year-old Joseph for a family celebration today.

"My grandmother is still extremely healthy," Niki said.

"You would never believe she was 100, she is still so aware of what's going on."

Agnes said she was delighted that her great-grandsons Joseph and Thomas had travelled thousands of miles in their school holidays to see her for her special birthday.

"I don't get to see them quite as much as I would like," said Agnes.

"It has been about eight months since I last saw them and they have really grown in that time.

"I suppose I am looking forward to my birthday," she said yesterday. "But I'm getting a bit too old for parties now."