SHE may be on the other side of the world but Mollie Hardiman's family and friends in Wyre Forest will be raising a glass to her 100th birthday today.

Mollie moved to Adelaide in Australia 32 years ago with daughter Betty - but she left behind her five other children, who are all still alive.

She had moved to Kidderminster at a young age and worked in the carpet industry. She has nine grandchildren, nine great-grandchildren and four great-great-grandchildren.

Her oldest son Deryck, 78, who lives in Stourport, said: "In the First World War Mollie spent a lot of time entertaining the wounded troops, singing while being accompanied at the piano by her mother.

"In the Second World War she made all the dancing costumes for her three daughters who, like mom, did a lot of shows for the local hospitals, and charity shows - using blackout material, bleached sugar sacks, bandages and anything she could lay her hands on."

After the war Mrs Hardiman, who was born in Nottingham, kept her interest in performing alive by working as a wardrobe mistress for Carpet Trades Operatic Society.

She will be celebrating today with a party in her Adelaide retirement home.