A TEA party marked the birthdays of four Leominster residents who have a combined age of 340.

The event was held at Norfolk House and celebrated four birthdays which fell in August.

Doreen Heath turned 87, Evelyn Lane was 79, Frank Rudnik turned 72 and Alice Hamer became 102.

Born shortly after the start of the First World War on August 27 1914, Mrs Hamer was the second of five children of small tenant farmers Henry and Emily Millichamp, at The Lydiatts in Eyton.

After leaving school she went into domestic service near Kidderminster and after returning to her home county, she worked as a shop assistant at Hope-under-Dinmore where she met Cyril Hamer.

They married at Eye Church in 1946 and started married life in Luston. The couple had two children, Celia and Malcolm.

Asked what the secret was to reaching 102, Mrs Hamer said 'hard work'.

Charlene Barnett, wellbeing and tenancy support officer at Norfolk House, said: "Each month we are going to be celebrating tenants' birthdays and having a joint birthday party.

"It's happened previously but we are trying to re-engage the tenants by introducing more social activities.

"It's important for their general wellbeing and for reducing isolation."