A CENTENARIAN said "life has been very good" as she celebrated her 100th birthday at a chapel hall in Bournemouth.

Molly Joseph, who lost her hearing around a decade ago but remains able to speak clearly, enjoyed a party with cake and various food brought by the guests at Charminster Chapel on Sunday, April 3.

She was also presented with flowers and cards including one from The Queen and marvelled at how many people at turned out to mark the special occasion, many of whom she sees at church every Sunday as a life-long Christian.

At one point, she even made a light-hearted joke about how many of the day's attendees would return if the same event was able to take place in 10 years time.

Molly said: "This is a day I never thought that I would see. I have had 100 years and God has been very good to me. I've had my good days and my bad days, but one has to rely on God.

"I think that things have altered going through the years and things have closed down, but I will always find a church."

Having been born in Malvern Road in Moordown, Molly trained as a seamstress after leaving school. She met her husband, Victor, at Winton Christian Fellowship and they were married at Charminster Chapel Hall, with the couple welcoming a son, Paul, before Victor's death 32 years ago.

"On the whole, I've had a very happy life. I'm afraid that I lost my husband. He had a year after he retired and then he died. It was a bit of a shock to me, but we have to take life as it comes and try to give the best outlook."

She was joined at the party on Charminster Road by her friend, Tony Steer and family members including her son, Paul, Graham and Silvia Jessop, Silvia's son, Mark and his wife, Evie, Karlene and Molly's grandson, Jack.