FAMILY members travelled to Helensburgh from as far afield as Canada to celebrate a special local lady’s 100th birthday on Sunday.

Jean Mitchell’s landmark age was marked by a party at the Morar Lodge private nursing home in Glasgow Street, where she lives.

Around 30 friends and family members joined staff at the care home for a very special birthday bash with plenty of cake and champagne.

Among those present were Jean’s brother, 90-year-old Tom Blair, and his children Graeme Blair and Fiona Benson, as well as two of Graeme’s children, Jean’s great-grandchildren Taye and Orrin, who travelled from London for the occasion.

READ MORE: 100th birthday milestone for Helensburgh's Molly

Jean’s granddaughter, Tracy Stevenson, who lives near Vancouver and travelled to Scotland with her father Iain, his wife Sandi and Tracy’s aunt Linda, to join in the celebrations, said: “She loved it. If there’s champagne and chocolates, she’s up for that!

“She used to tell people her youthful looks were down to ‘my Max Factor’, and she loved to walk – she used to live three storeys up, and as much as the rest of the family hated the stairs, she always said they kept her fit.”

Born in Glasgow on August 18, 1919, Jean lived in Helensburgh for many years, but has also spent time living and working in Dublin, Poole and in three different cities in Canada – Edmonton, St Catherines and Vancouver

She moved back to Scotland in the early 1970s following the death of her husband, George, to live firstly in the Dumbarton area, and then in Helensburgh.

READ MORE: Was tornado to blame for blitz at Helensburgh flat?

The couple had two children, Fraser and Irene, though Jean has outlived both.

Jean, who was instrumental in the founding of Helensburgh Curling Club, was a well-known face among the staff of the former Helensburgh ladieswear store Pollock and Edwards, and also worked for many years as the main buyer in the womenswear department at House of Fraser in Glasgow, where she remained on the staff until she was well into her 70s.

Reflecting on Sunday’s party, Tracy said: “The staff at Morar Lodge put on a truly wonderful party. They really outdid themselves, and I can’t thank them enough.

“They went above and beyond, and not just on Sunday – the care the staff, and in particular team members Lynn and Naomi, provide to Jean is absolutely phenomenal.”

READ MORE: Click here for all the latest Helensburgh and Lomond news headlines