A grandmother of ten who used to take in evacuees from London during the Second World War turned 100 at the weekend.

Edith Castle celebrated her centenary with five generations on Saturday at Clare Lodge Care Home in Battlefield Road, St Albans.

She was joined by her 10 grandchildren, 15 great-grandchildren and two great, great-grandchildren for a birthday party and buffet.

Edith, who was born in Pontycymer, Wales, is one of 13 children and is the only surviving member. She worked as a ladies maid up until she moved to St Albans at the age of 14 and shortly after she met her husband in the district.

They moved to Tyttenhanger before the war and had two children Joyce and Michael.

Her husband James was taken prisoner in Crete during the war and kept in a prisoner of war camp in Austria for four years.

Edith’s daughter Linda Stanbury said her mother did many jobs in her younger years: “She worked in a large house in St Albans as a housemaid.

“It was a tough time for her during the war years looking after her two eldest children, especially because at one time she didn’t know whether James was alive or not.

“She also took in evacuees from London.”

After the war and when James returned, the couple had two more children, Linda and Brenda, and they then moved to London Colney in 1951.

Edith lost her husband in 1987 and went to live at Cyril Dumpleton House in London Colney until October 2012 before moving to her current care home.