War veteran toasts 100th birthday with 1,200 cards

One of the many cards Lorna White received was from the King and Queen

A woman who served in World War Two has celebrated her 100th birthday after being sent more than 1,200 cards.

Lorna White was awarded an MBE for services to the community in 2012, after setting up Redditch Council for Voluntary Services in Worcestershire.

Her daughter Liz Williams said the cards were from "people her work has touched and those who are in awe of her being 100 years old", as well as businesses and schools in the town.

Born in 1925, Mrs White joined the Auxiliary Territorial Service aged 17, and eventually rose to the rank of Warrant Officer First Class.

It was during her service in Asia she met her husband, who she married in 1959.

'Mum was thrilled'

The year after receiving her MBE, she met the King, then Prince Charles, at the awards ceremony.

Mrs Williams said her mother were "thrilled" to receive her 100th birthday card from the King and Queen.

Mrs White now lives at Brambles Residential Care Home, where she had a birthday party with family, close friends and members of the community who she has worked with.

Mrs White celebrated with a birthday party at her care home

She said her secrets for a long life were "the right food most of the time, behaving decently, doing what you can for other people when possible and no excesses".

Mrs Williams said highlights of her mother's life included "setting up things like the first women's refuge in Redditch and Shopmobility" and being the chair of the residents' association.