ELSIE Beere doesn’t look as though she will turn 103 this weekend, and perhaps that’s because, officially, she can’t.

Elsie, of Brightlingsea, was born on February 29, 1912 and has therefore has only had 25 leap year birthdays.

Living up to her official age, the great-grandmother’s favourite tipple is a snowball – which you’re more likely to find in a cocktail bar than a retirement home.

And she enjoys nothing better than cheering on Michael van Gerwen, her favourite darts player and snooker player Judd Trump, from the comfort of her own living room.

She said: “A lot of people say I don’t look 103.

“I try and do as much as possible and still do my washing by hand. I’ve never had a washing machine because I don’t see the point.

“I do love snowballs, and hopefully will be having one this weekend. And I love the darts and snooker.

“I love watching van Gerwen and Trump because they both play their sports fast and exciting.

“I really enjoywatching University Challenge, especially to see if people get the questions wrong. And Mastermind too, I love that.”

Elsie has lived all her life in Brightlingsea and was born in New Street.

She joined the Brightlingsea Auxiliary Nurses in 1939, when war broke out, and met her husband, Jim, in the town during the Second World War.

They went on to marry at All Saints Church, in Brightlingsea, just before the conflict ended in 1945.

They had two children – Harry and Mary.

Jim died in 1988 and Elsie now lives with Harry.

Harry, of Regent Road, said: “A lot of people say she misses out because her birthday only falls on a leap year.

“But I think actually she is lucky, because a lot of the time she gets presents and cards on both February 28 and March 1, so really she gets two birthdays, which is better than most people.”

Elsie will be celebrating her birthday on Saturday, with her son, daughter, two grandchildren and four great-grandchildren, friends and a special cake.