ELSIE King, believed to be the oldest woman in Oxfordshire, has died aged 108.

The great-grandmother-of-five from Wallingford celebrated her 108th birthday last August with family and friends at the Westgate House care home in Wallingford, where she lived for three years.

Daughter Iris Johnson, 81, said: "She was a very caring mother who cooked fabulous meals and did a lot of knitting for us when we were young. She was also wonderful with our children, who she was very fond of."

Jackie Douglas, a carer at Westgate, said: "Elsie was an absolute darling with so many stories from the past and she will be missed by everybody here."

Mrs King, who died in her sleep on Thursday, lived in St Leonards Lane, Wallingford, for more than 70 years before moving to the care home.

She had brought up her daughters, Iris, and Sue Brasher, 82, as a single mother, after her husband Thomas died in 1936, and worked as a nanny for most of her career as well as being involved in a number of community activities throughout her life.

Mayor of Wallingford Bernard Stone also paid tribute to Mrs King.

He said: "Elsie King was a remarkable lady who lived to a remarkable age. I last saw her when I paid her a visit on Christmas day and she was as alert as ever."