FORMER loom worker Alice Booth celebrated her 104th birthday with fish and chips and a glass of white wine.

The great gran was treated to a fish supper at Curley’s Dining Rooms in Horwich and said her favourite birthday present was a bottle of white wine.

Mrs Booth puts her long life down to always working — she did shifts as a barmaid even after she had retired — as well as never smoking.

After her birthday meal, the lively mother-of-two carried on partying with staff and friends back at Spennymoor Care Home in Ivy Road, Halliwell.

Mrs Booth said: “I really enjoyed my birthday celebrations — I liked receiving a bottle of white wine the most.

“I think I’ve lived this long because I’ve always been healthy. I’ve never smoked, I’ve always worked and I’ve not been ill very often.

“I’ve always been close to my family and they’ve always been good to me.”

The highlights of Mrs Booth’s long life are the family holidays she spent in Cornwall and cruises she took along the Mediterranean.

Mrs Booth was born in Blackrod and went to the former Methodist School in Manchester Road.

After leaving school, she worked as a loom worker and when she retired she worked as a barmaid at The Ridgway Arms in Station Road, Blackrod.

She was married to John Booth from 1936 until his death in 1996, aged 86.

Mrs Booth lived in Blackrod throughout her life, until she moved to Spennymoor Care Home two years ago.

She has two children, two grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

Daughter Christine Leather, aged 70, said: “My mother is a very strong character. She’s full of enthusiasm and she always wants to have something to do.

“She had a really nice time on her birthday. As a family, we are all in awe of her.”

Vannessa Jackson, a carer at Spennymoor Care Home, added: “Alice is very popular here and she’s very independent. She likes to do things on her own and doesn’t like other people helping her.

“The party was fantastic and it’s a pleasure for the staff to look after Alice.”