DANCING is the secret to a long life, according to a Gwent 100-year-old.

Florence Blackwell, of Magor, only made her dancing shoes redundant last year at the age of 99, after first taking it up for pleasure in her twenties.

The great-grandmother, who turned 100 on Tuesday, celebrated her milestone birthday with a glass of her favourite sherry.

Instead of presents, the member of Magor’s Ebenezer Baptist Church asked family and friends to donate to Christian Aid, and £200 was raised.

The pensioner, who married her late husband, Harry Blackwell, at the age of 22, was born in Pill on February 21, 1912, and lived there until she was 22.

The couple moved to Malpas, before buying a local fish and chip shop and a grocery store.

Three years later Mrs Blackwell had her son, Terrence. She also has a grandson, Graham, and four-great grandchildren.

Mrs Blackwell celebrated her birthday with a family meal.

Great-grandson Anthony, 26, said: “She really is one in a million.”