A GREAT grandmother celebrated her 102nd birthday in style with a party thrown by her family at a nursing home in Idle.

Esme Rookes marked her milestone birthday yesterday with a party at Howgate Nursing Home, Howgate, Idle, where she is a resident.

Mrs Rookes was born in Murton, a village in County Durham, and lived in her native north east until she moved to the care home in Idle two years ago.

She worked as the manageress at a drapers and also co-owned a general dealers, now known as a convenience store, with her husband of 60 years, Ralph, who died in 2003.

She has two sons, Trevor, 66, and Garth Rookes, 69, six grandchildren and five great grandchildren.

Her son Garth said: "We had a do for her at the home.

"She seemed to enjoy the party.

"The home has been set up to give her a birthday party. We also held a do at my house for her on Sunday, with all of the family there. This was her second birthday party at the home.

"She moved down here a couple of years ago to be closer to most of her family who lived down here already."