Tea is the key to a long life, according to Margaret David (correct).

And she should know, because she drinks gallons of the stuff and celebrated her 100th birthday yester- dayon Sunday (July 5).

"I do like to have a cup of tea. It's my cups of tea which keep me going," said Mrs David, whose consumption rate for her favourite drink averages one cup every 30 minutes.

Mrs David has lived at Winterbrook Nursing Home, near Wallingford, for the last three years. She moved there with husband Emrys (correct) - who died in 1996 - from their home in Didcot.

She was born on a farm in Newport, Wales, and worked on a market stall in the town before marrying her husband in 1925.

In 1990, the couple moved from Wales to Didcot, where her daughter Eirwen Wilkins (correct) lives. Mrs David was a regular member of the town's Methodist church.

She is still very active and, when she was in her 80s, pushed the mobile library trolley round hospital wards in Cardiff.

Mrs Wilkins said: "She always says that a cup of tea is the drop of life."

Farida Jamani, matron of the nursing home in Reading Road, (correct), added: "She says her longevity is due to cups of tea.

"Mrs David drinks gallons of it. She lives for her tea."

Mrs David has one granddaughter and two great- grandsons.

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