POETRY-loving centenarian Dorothy Legge has celebrated her milestone 100th birthday with a party attended by civic dignitaries – and no doubt a few lines of verse.

Mrs Legge spent the afternoon surrounded by family and friends at her Poole nursing home.

The mother-of-two sons is described as “quite a sprightly lady” who can still recite poetry she wrote decades previously.

She was born in Wareham, spent her childhood living in Poole’s Green Road and attended school at South Road until entering domestic service aged 14.

Soon afterwards she met Bill, the man she would marry in 1937 at Poole’s St Paul’s Church.

After their wedding they moved to Southampton for a short time, before returning to Poole for good during the early years of World War Two.

Her boys said: “Mum was very much a woman of her time, nothing was ever wasted, certainly not food and clothing. If not worn out, it was handed down.

“Mum has a positive outlook and lived a healthy lifestyle. She was principally vegetarian, very enthusiastic towards music, dance and yoga and still able to touch her toes aged 98.”

In fact, up until two years ago Mrs Legge was living at home on her own. She now enjoys life at Elizabeth House care home in Parkstone.

Care home manager Marlene Toole said: “She is a wonderful lady. We’ve had the mayor and mayoress here. There’s been about 40 people in total and everyone’s really enjoyed it.

“Dorothy received her telegram from the Queen and she’s had a lovely day.”