Britain's oldest family celebrate in Lostock

An evergreen family's oldest living member celebrated her 105th birthday with a huge party last week.

And for Fanny Billington and her five surviving siblings it was their 575th annual celebration, making them Britain's oldest family.

Fanny and her 102-year-old sister Jinny, who both live at Crossways residential home in Lostock, were joined on Thursday by sisters Mary, aged 98; Sally, 92; Anne, 90 and "baby brother" Arthur, 88.

Fanny and Jinny have lived through the reign of five monarchs. Their dad John and their mother, Jane, were both in their late eighties when they passed away in the 1960s.

Crossways manager Sue Houghton said: "Everyone adores Fanny and Jinny, they are the life and soul of the place.

"They're both quite late risers but can be up until midnight or 1am watching telly!"

The 12 Billington children grew up in a three-bed end-terrace in Lostock.

Fanny said: "We are part of a long-lived family and it must be down to our genes. Everyone says it is amazing, but to us it's normal.

"We were a large family but in those days, it was common for families of nine, 10 or even 13. I can't remember anyone in the area having fewer than six children."

Sue admitted the home's oldest resident has a special medicine which helps keep her young. "Fanny loves a sherry!" she laughed.

"She just has whatever she wants whenever she wants - and why not? It hasn't done her any harm so far!"