A DETERMINED great-grandmother will celebrate her 100th birthday this weekend after surviving a heart attack just a fortnight ago.

Gwen Abbess will enjoy a glass of ginger wine - her favourite tipple - when she opens the traditional telegram from the Queen on Saturday afternoon surrounded by family and friends.

But the pensioner, who has five grandchildren and four great-grandchildren, came close to missing the landmark event when she was taken seriously ill with heart problems.

Her son, Chris Abbess, of Leicester Road, Woodford Green, said his mum - who raised him and his sister single handedly after their father died in 1957 - was made of 'sterner stuff.'

He said: "She is a tough woman, and has kept going despite her ill health.

"It has been touch and go, because she is so old and frail now, but she's pulled through."

His daughter Jo Abbess said her grandmother - who lives at Homesdale Residential Home in New Wanstead - deserves a good party.

She said: "She brought my dad and his sister up alone, and looked after one of her granddaughters for a long while.

"We've organised lots of nice cake and games for us all to enjoy on the day."