"NO DRINKING, no smoking and plenty of hard work" is the key to living to be 100 years old - according to a lady who recently reached the special milestone.

Violet Bell spent 65 years living on Penchwintan Road in Bangor and now resides at the Plas Garnedd home in Llanfairpwll.

To mark her 100th birthday, 20 of Violet’s closest family members gathered together at the Carreg-Y-Bran hotel on Sunday, where they shared plenty of stories, tea and cakes.

Speaking on how she got to reach that special century, Violet said: “I’ve never done anything special, I have simply worked hard and led a drink and cigarette free life.

“I have had a lovely 100th birthday and I am grateful to everyone who came.”

Violet formerly worked at the Plaza Cinema in Bangor for many years and took a break, only to return once again and work there until she was 70 years old.

In 1940, she married Hugh Douglas Bell, a former BT engineer who was in the RAF and served in the Second World War.

Hugh passed away in 2001 but was survived by Violet and their two children - Douglas and Helena.

Violet now has two grandchildren - Yvonne and Gwyn, five great grandchildren - Lois, Ella, Miriam, Ellen and Llyr and a great, great grandson called Kian.

During her birthday (Monday, June 2), Helena read out her mother's pile of cards to her. Violet says a few in particular stood out from the others.

“I was sent cards from Queen Elizabeth II, Carwyn Jones (First minister of Wales) and Alun Cairns (Secretary of state for Wales).

“It was a lovely surprise. Hopefully now they will all come and visit me in person!”

Violet added that she had undergone a triple heart bypass surgery when she was 82 years old.

The man who performed it, Dr Groti, had told her that he wouldn’t have been able to do so if she had not been in "such good health".

“He told me that my lifestyle had certainly helped me and that he was able to perform the surgery because I was in good condition,” she said.

“He said that the operation would add ten years onto my life and it’s ended up adding twenty-eight so far.

“I have had a wonderful life surrounded by wonderful people.”

Violet added that in her day-to-day life, she enjoyes nothing more than making nurses at the home smile.