RIDES out, looking round garden centres and a regular "tipple" are the secret to a long and active life, according to Carleton's Edith Alice Coates, who celebrated her 100th birthday this week.

Edith, known as "Babs", was born in 1902, and has fond memories of living in the Scarborough area, particularly of her time at boarding school.

One event she will never forget is when Scarborough was bombed in the First World War.

"We were at school just getting up in the morning when the bombing started. It lasted for about three-quarters of an hour. No one at the school was hurt but 80 people in Scarborough died during the raid," said Mrs Coates.

She met her late husband Fred, a naval veteran of the Great War, at a dance in Kirkby Malham when she was visiting a friend.

They married in 1945 and initially lived in Skipton. In 1946 they moved to Sunnybank, in Carleton, where Fred's relatives had the Swan Inn. He worked at Aspinall's paint works.

She has always enjoyed watching cricket and has been vice president of Carleton Cricket Club for many years. To celebrate her birthday, the club presented her with an Easter egg with 100 iced on it. The parish council presented her with some flowers.

Accolades on her achievement in longevity have been coming in from all over. One card was from her cousin Christabel Burniston, author of "Life in a Liberty Bodice", and "The Brass and the Velvet" which she had published at the age of 92.

Edith has also received congratulations from the Queen.

On Wednesday, she enjoyed lunch at the Stirk House Hotel, Gisburn, with her close friends.