A QUARTER of sweets a day could have helped Bayton Common resident, Lily Clements, reach her 100th birthday tomorrow.

The great-great-grandmother, who moved to the village with her daughter, Jacqueline Clarke and family three years ago, enjoyed her four ounces of sweets a day for many years, although does not indulge as often now.

The non-smoking teetotaller was born in Ladywood and worked as an auxiliary at Birmingham's Children's Hospital before becoming a factory worker at Lucas for 24 years up until her retirement.

Her husband, Ernest, worked for Land Rover at Solihull, and died in 1977.

The couple had four children and Jacqueline said her mum enjoyed spending time with her extended family of 11 grandchildren, 16 great grandchildren and her great great-granddaughter.