A grandmother of six from Rickmansworth celebrated her 100 birthday this week and her daughter has paid tribute to a "wonderful mother".

Agnes Bantock, of The Cloisters, celebrated her 100 birthday on Monday, March 23, by having a birthday party at the family home and they said she was "honoured" to have received a card signed by The Queen.

This week, one of Ms Bantock’s daughters paid tribute to their mother, saying her "kind nature" meant three generations of the family could live under the same roof.

Elizabeth Tims said: "She has always been a wonderful mother to me and my sister, Philippa.

"She is kind, considerate, amusing, a good listener and one who has led by example.

"During our childhood she gave us a love of the arts and the countryside, taking us on countless outings during our school holidays up to London and out into the Chilterns which, looking back on it, I think she probably enjoyed at least as much, if not more, than us.

"My mother’s kindly nature enables three generations of us to live happily together under one roof, which is what she always wanted to do when she needed to leave her own home."

During the Second World War, Agnes served as a land girl before joining the Red Cross as an ambulance driver.

Agnes’ son-in-law Tim Tims, told the Watford Observer she was sent to Naples in 1944 to care for sick and wounded troops taking part in the Allied advance through Italy.

He said: "Her operational base was then moved to Padua and there she met the love of her life, Ted, who was one of her patients and they got married in 1946.

The pair had two daughters and lived together in Rickmansworth, Chorleywood and Sarratt.

The 100-year-old has also been a member of Rickmansworth and Sarratt Horticultural societies and was also a member of the Rickmansworth Art Society during the 1960s, where she had paintings exhibited each year.

After her husband Ted died in 1986, Agnes continued to live in Sarratt and went on many European cultural tours and study groups arranged by the local NADFAS group.

She moved to Rickmansworth in 2001 to live with her daughter and her family and has continued drawings for the parish magazine of St Mary’s Church.

Following disabling mini strokes, Agnes is now being cared for at home by her family and carers, but Tim said "she still enjoys visits from family including six grandchildren and friends".

Agnes’ son-in-law, Tim, added: "The planet Pluto was discovered just before she was born in 1915. That an eclipse should almost coincide with her birthday seems appropriate for a lady with a love of the stars.

"Agnes has always been a great admirer of our Queen and she was honoured to receive her personal greetings card signed by Her Majesty".