A woman celebrated her 100th birthday yesterday when friends surprised her during a visit to her local post office.

Queenie Hurlecky, of Station Road in Chingford, was shocked when her friends presented her with the cake in Chingford Post Office, along the same road.

She had come in with a friend to find shopkeepers and pals there with the cake and snacks yesterday morning.

Post office manager Maheswary Viswanathan, 60, said: “She didn’t know anything about it. She was so happy, she was absolutely delighted.

“She’s such a nice and pleasant lady, everyone here loves her. She has so many friends and we’re so pleased she had a good time. Today she even came in and gave us chocolate to say thanks.

“She still comes out on the high street a lot and has a lovely pub lunch on Tuesdays with a friend.”

The centenarian also got a card from the Queen to commemorate her big day.