Still knitting for needy kids at 100

She may now be a century old but one Capel resident is still as sharp as her knitting needles.

Muriel Dale, of Temple Lane, celebrated her 100th birthday on Monday, August 3.

Yet despite reaching this massive milestone Mrs Dale, who has six children, 16 grandchildren and 22 great grandchildren, is still using her time to help others.

For more than a decade, Mrs Dale has been knitting bears for Teddies for Tragedies, a charity which send bears to children in need throughout the world.

Mrs Dale, who was once a keen hockey player, has now knitted 1,142 bears for the charity.

She said: "They go to sick children and a lot go to African countries for poor little children.

"I knit them in lots of different bright colours.

"I wanted to do something. I can't just sit around doing nothing and it is something simple I can do to help people.

"They are very simple to make and they give so much pleasure for children.

"A lot of them go to hospitals where there are sick children and they say they get better quicker when they get them. I suppose it is because they have something to love."

But keeping busy isn't the only secret to reaching 100 says Mrs Dale, a former Capel Brown Owl.

She says fresh air, going to bed at a reasonable hour and living in the country are the reasons for her longevity.

She said: "I have always lived on a farm out in the countryside and I would say from my point of view I wouldn't ever want to live in a town.

"It feels very peculiar getting to this age."

Mrs Dale, whose husband Jack passed away in 1986, added: "Marrying was one of the best things that ever happened to me.

"I had a very happy marriage for 46 years and when Jack had a heart attack that was the worst thing that ever happened.

"I think a happy marriage is the most special thing, there is nothing like it."

Mrs Dale is having a triple celebration to mark her centenary, including a party on Saturday.