A HUGE cake, balloons and friends helped May Harris celebrate her 100th birthday.

Three days before she reaches her centenary tomorrow, she was treated to the celebration at the Salvation Army Home League base in New Orchard, Poole.

A regular at the weekly event, Miss Harris, who lives in sheltered housing at Parkstone, also received a visit from Poole Mayor, Cllr Peter Adams.

Tucking into her strawberries and cream, she said: “I love coming down to the Salvation Army. I have got lovely friends.”

Born at Ryde on the Isle of Wight, she arrived at Broadstone as a baby and was fostered when she was two years-old.

At 15 she became a dressmaker and joined the Women’s Auxiliary Air Force during the Second World War where she did nursing, before she caught scarlet fever and was invalided out.

Afterwards she cared for three children and has lived in a succession of bedsits, living at Creekmoor for 34 years and is a former Sea Ranger.

A long time member of St John’s Church at Parkstone she puts her long life down to, “Loving the Lord – he’s my saviour.”

Mayor Cllr Adams said: “May is remarkable. To have got to her age and be so with it is fabulous.” He praised the Salvation Army in caring for people and for providing the lonely with a Christmas lunch.

Elizabeth Dear, secretary of the Home League, which provides arts and crafts, a lunch and fellowship afternoon, said: “May is an amazing lady.”