A FORMER psychiatric nurse who moved to St Helens from America when she was a child celebrated her 100th birthday surrounded by friends and family.

Viola Penketh enjoyed her special day at the Alexandra care home, in Newton, with a party to mark her milestone.

The emotional day saw Ms Penketh celebrate with friends and relatives, some having flown all the way from Australia to be there for her day.

Ms Penketh was born in Boston, Massachusetts, and moved to England aged 10.

Having lived in North Road and also at Hard Lane, she was a psychiatric nurse at Rainhill through her working life.

She was married to husband Bill for more than 40 years, with one daughter, Lyn, 66. She also has two grandchildren and two great-grandchildren, with a third on the way, due early next year.

“It was absolutely superb and she had a wonderful time, and we had a few tears,” said Lyn.

“My husband and one of my sons, and his wife, were there and my cousin, Rosemary, came from Australia with her husband.

“We had a party with a cake, which said ‘100’ in three different parts, and had balloons, and there was a singer. It was really good.

“She got her card off the Queen, a telegram from Iain Duncan-Smith and we started crying. She hadn’t seen Rosemary for seven years but she knew who she was.

"It was beautiful and we also had a family celebration on the Sunday.”