Lord Lieutenant Captain Gerald Maitland-Carew visited the Kelso-born Mrs Luke at Queen's House Care Home in Kelso in the morning.

And the former part-time home carer also received a telegram from the Queen.

Nurse Trish Mitchell said: "Mrs Luke was very excited and couldn't believe she was 100. She had a stream of visitors and in the afternoon we had a lovely cake made by our chef. She managed to blow some candles out and we sang 'Happy Birthday'.

"She was just very happy. She's a very cheery person anyway and always smiling. She got loads of flowers, loads of cards – it's like a flower shop in there – and she got chocolate, she likes her chocolate!"

Mrs Luke has lived in the Borders all her life. She was married to a gamekeeper and lived in the Ettrick Valley for 32 years and moved into Queen's House three years ago.

One of Mrs Luke's visitors was her granddaughter from Edinburgh.

Mrs Luke is pictured with staff members Belinda Hawkin R.N., left, and Kayleigh Wright, care assistant.

photograph: alastair watson