A GREAT-great-grandmother said a prayer every morning has helped her reach the age of 100.

Violet Flack marked her special day with a party for 50 friends and family – including 13 who travelled from Australia – at the Red Lion, in Chesterton, near Bicester.

In fact, the only dampener was a delay in receiving gifts from her daughter in Australia and a card from the Queen, due to the postal strike.

Mrs Flack said one of the secrets to her long life was that she always cooked fresh meals and ate fruit and vegetables.

She said: “To me the most important thing is a prayer first thing every morning for strength, confidence and willpower to do my work and whatever I have to do.

“And, of course, to have a loving family.

“I have three wonderful children and they have been my life.”

Mrs Flack married First World War veteran Bruce, a hospital cook, in 1934.

The couple had three children, Denise, Michael and Jennifer, 11 grandchildren, 17 great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild.

Mrs Flack initially moved to Australia after her husband died in 1959.

However she returned to England in the 1970s, to a cottage in Wendlebury, near Bicester.

There she threw herself into being part of the local community joining the village hall committee, pensioners’ club and Mothers’ Union.