ONE of City of York Council's oldest tenants, Thea Asplin, was celebrating her 100th birthday today.

She has lived at Marjorie Waite Court, Clifton, since it opened 17 years ago and enjoys bingo there as well as outings arranged by warden Sue Kendall.

Sue said: "She's very independent and quite a character."

A party was held at the home yesterday in advance of her birthday, and her family were taking her out for dinner tonight.

Thea puts her long life down to hard work and exercise. She was still scrubbing the floors at the St Helen's Square branch of the TSB at 73, according to her daughter-in-law, Pat Lea.

Pat said: "She used to get up at 4am and ride a bike from her home in Tang Hall to the bank up to 70 years old, and was dancing until she was 90.

"When she was young she played every sport going and has always been a very active person.

"She always says hard work never killed anyone and she's living proof of that."

Thea lost her first husband at sea in wartime and his name, Alfred Lea, is inscribed on the cenotaph in Station Rise, York.

She subsequently married Tony Asplin, and has two sons and a daughter, five grandchildren and six great grandchildren.

Updated: 09:52 Saturday, July 09, 2005