A lifelong Hackney resident celebrated her 100th birthday with a huge family party.

Kathleen Sampson, known as Kit, also received cards from the Queen and politician Iain Duncan Smith to mark the milestone.

Her extended family –including all of her two children, four grandchildren and seven great grandchildren – were amongst the 100 guests at the Gascoyne Estate Community Hall party.

Mrs Sampson said: “I had a lovely party and thoroughly enjoyed it.

“I appreciated it very very much. It was so lovely to see everyone for a happy occasion.”

Her son David, who organised the event said: “For her age she’s a remarkable lady.

“You would never realise quite how old she is. She actually got up at the party and had a dance.”

Born on March 30 1912, Mrs Sampson attended Hackney Free and Parochial School.

She left at the age of 14 to work as a dressmaker until her marriage on Christmas day 1936.

She lived in a town house on Frampton Park Road near London Fields, which was demolished during the Second World War and replaced with flats, but now lives on Wick Road, Homerton.

Until recently she helped organised bingo and activities at the community hall.

Her nephew, Peter Bowyer, said: “She really enjoyed herself.

“There’s none of us who is likely to be going to a birthday party for another person who’s 100.”

Three cakes, in the shape of the number 100, rounded off the celebrations.