New research shows that enjoying a few treats like chocolate and wine can lead to a longer life and two sherry and fish and chips-loving centenarians from Oxford are living proof.

Gladys Forster turns 100 today and Olive Rawle will celebrate her birthday on Sunday When they were born in 1906, King Edward VII was on the throne and Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman was Prime Minister. A century on, both women live at the Longlands House nursing home, in Balfour Road, Blackbird Leys.

Mrs Forster was one of 10 children born to her parents Alice and Arthur North. As a child she lived in Pensions Gardens, St Clement's. She moved to Donnington Lane, off Iffley Road, after marrying her husband Percy in 1928. The couple were married for 57 years. Mr Forster died in 1985.

The mother-of-two, who has five grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren, was celebrating her birthday with a garden party thrown by her children Rita Aldridge and Keith Forster.

Mr Forster said the secret to his mother's longevity was being happy.

He said: "All her life she has been happy and healthy. She never smoked and always kept busy. She liked having a beer in the pub with dad and now she enjoys a sherry."

Mrs Rawle, who moved to Longlands in 1998, can be quite a chatterbox at times, according to staff at the nursing home.

Her favourite meal is Britain's national dish, fish and chips, and she is looking forward to celebrating her special day with a party.