A grandmother who is turning 100 has officially lived in Hertfordshire for a century.

Hilda Elizabeth Thomas is celebrating her birthday today (March 6). She told the Observer she has lived in Watford all her life and never travelled abroad.

She said: "A lot has changed in my 100 years and the world today is a very different place.

"I have never owned a passport or been on an aeroplane, but I love listening to stories of families who have travelled."

Born in Stanmore Road in Watford on March 6 in 1920, Hilda was one of six children and attended school at Callowland in Leavesden Road.

She left when she was 14 and worked in Co-op in St Albans Road.

While helping out during the war at De Havilland in Borehamwood she met William Howard Thomas, who she married in June 1943.

Harrow Times:

Hilda and her husband. Photo: UGC

She now has two children, Alan and Ann, and six grandchildren.

She later worked as a cook at Victoria School, Watford Girls Grammar School and then worked at Scammell Lorries in Tolpits Lane.

She retired when she was 60 and helped out in a number of charity shops.

Her husband died in January 2004 who she was with for 60 years.

Harrow Times:

Hilda when she was young. Photo: UGC

She moved to St Matthew's Care Home in Redbourn last year. She is partially sighted but said she has now taken up knitting again.

She added: "I don't have a secret to reaching a 100 years old but I have never smoked, drank very little and despite having a very poor childhood I have had a contented life and I take each day as it comes."

She said she will be celebrating her birthday with family and friends.