GREAT grannie Annie Haydock is celebrating her 100th birthday today.

Over the past century she has seen two World Wars, the Queen's coronation, Neil Armstrong walking on the moon and many other landmark events of the 20th century.

But now it is her turn to be the centre of attention and family and friends have been rallying round to make her day special.

Annie (pictured) was born in 1902 and left school to work in a mill as a weaver.

She married Fred Winterbottom at St Stephen's and All Martyrs in Lever Bridge and the pair lived in Tonge Fold until her husband's death in 1945.

Annie remarried in 1965 to Albert Haydock. Tragically, he was killed in an accident at work, leaving Annie to bring up her two children, Brenda, now aged 67, and Gladys, aged 72.

She was overjoyed by the birth of her four grandchildren -- Susan, Keith, Lynn and Ann -- and was delighted when they provided her with nine great- grandchildren.

According to daughter Brenda, Annie has lived a simple but hard life, saying: "Like anyone from her era, she is as tough as nails."