A former Holt landlady celebrated her 100th birthday with her five children, 16 grandchildren and 25 great-grandchildren.

Mrs Eva Ellen Mason, of Coronation Avenue, Bradford on Avon, who is originally from Shepherd’s Bush in London, came to Wiltshire with her husband Raymond in 1967.

They soon took over at the Tollgate Inn on Ham Green, Holt, formerly known as the White Hart.

After a very successful and reputable 15 years in the pub industry, the couple moved back to London to focus on Mr Mason’s quantity surveying career.

Mrs Mason described herself as a person who had “lots of fingers in lots of pies”: she has also run a smallholding and was a bus conductress during the Second World War.

She said: “I think I was one of the first ones that joined. It was that or munitions duty.”

She returned to Wiltshire in 2000 and settled into the home in which she still lives today. Her husband died in 2007 but she still likes to make sure she sees the world for him.

Describing herself as “quite a globetrotter”, she has visited countries including China, West Africa, Australia, Crete and Egypt. She said: “I now have to look for places I haven’t been.”

She is marking her 100th birthday by making the 13-hour trip to Mexico as a “birthday treat”, and is planning a trip to Scotland next year.

Mrs Mason said: “I’ve been everywhere but not Scotland. I love the sun but I don’t think I will get much up there. I’ll have to buy one of those kilts!”

As for her secret to reaching 100, the only advice she gives is to “have everything in moderation".