A woman thought to be York's oldest citizen was celebrating her 106th birthday today with a visit from the Lord Mayor of York, Councillor Shan Braund, and the Sheriff of York, Barrie Ferguson.

Emily Cook, of Limetree House, Upper Poppleton, and her family joined with staff from the home to organise a birthday party.

The civic dignitaries were invited as well as friends and relatives.

Emily was born at Scagglethorpe, near Malton, where her aunt and uncle ran the village post office.

She moved to Poppleton Road, York, as a girl, and went to Poppleton Road School.

She then spent her entire working life in service, working for several families in the York area.

She said she remembered being fourth maid when she started out and moving from house to house with a good friend so they could always work together.

After a period working in the North-East, she returned to York and served for many years with Tom Kirkby and his family as housekeeper, moving with them around the country. He was head groom at the Theakson Stud, near Bedale, when he retired.

"They used to let me ride the horses.

"The horses knew me and I was fond of animals. I had some happy times," she said.

When Mr Kirkby retired to Norton she went with him, inheriting his cottage when he died. She lived there until she was 97, when she moved to Poppleton to be nearer her three nieces.

She said she put her long life down to "behaving myself with other people".

"I was very happy in all my jobs," she said.

Her niece, Eve Baron, said: "She's always been very industrious and hard working and she's always lived in the country."

Emily said she had eaten a meal of meat and two veg every day and she also enjoyed "a drop of sherry, but not much".

Updated: 12:08 Monday, February 26, 2001