Muriel Froomberg gave up smoking six years ago at the age of 102 because she wanted to live longer. It appears to have done the trick as she celebrated her 108th birthday at a party attended by four generations of family.

The great-great grandmother was born Muriel Lazarus in London in 1909. After evacuation to Brighton during the First World War, she returned to her home in Hampstead and married Archie Froomberg at Hampstead Synagogue in 1929.

They had three sons, only one of whom — Richard, 79 — is still alive. During the Second World War, the family moved to Brackley in Northamptonshire, where Mrs Froomberg drove a lorry making deliveries to army camps.

Among those at the birthday celebration was daughter-in-law Barbara Froomberg, 81. “Muriel is a lovely lady and a great mother-in-law,” she said.

“She puts her longevity down to having smoked 10 to 15 cigarettes a day and drinking whiskey twice a day.” She still enjoys a tipple.

Barbara Froomberg said her mother-in-law joined Wizo at 17 and remained a member. “She spent years working tirelessly for Wizo.”

The birthday girl still lives at home in St John’s Wood with the support of carers. She has seven grandchildren, 13 great-grandchildren and four great-great grandchildren, with another on the way.

She is one of the 100 oldest people in the country.