An evergreen pensioner has defied the odds to celebrate her 105th birthday - despite only being given 12 hours to live when she was born in 1906.

But Lillie Arnold didn't raise a glass to her miraculous achievement - because she puts her incredible old age down to never touching a drop of alcohol.

And the bubbly pensioner has one message for the doctor who almost gave up on her all those years ago: 'Look at me now!'

Still going strong: Lillie Arnold, 105, wasn't expected to survive a day when she was born

Lillie, who now lives in the Royal National Institute for the Blind's Kathleen Chambers care home in Burnham-on-Sea, Somerset, added: 'I was a twin, but sadly my sister didn't make it.

'I was so weak the doctors only gave me half a day to live - I often wonder what that doctor would think now if he saw me.'

Lillie defied medical opinion to reach the grand old age - and is still going strong 919,800 hours on from the shock diagnosis back in 1906.

She has put her miraculous recovery over the years down to living healthily and breathing in the fresh seaside air, having moved to Portsmouth and then Burnham-on-Sea from her native London.
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