LANGUAGE was no barrier for Italian great-grandmother Raffaela Tamilia as she celebrated her 100th birthday last Friday.

Mrs Tamilia was born and bred in Italy but has lived in Pembrokeshire for 25 years and although she does not speak much English she enjoyed the wealth of celebrations organised by her family and friends.

Mrs Tamilia's connections with Pembrokeshire span back almost 50 years, when five of her six children moved to the county.

Mrs Tamilia remained in the small village of Ripabottoni with her husband Pasquale and eldest daughter Maria but a family wedding 25 years ago brought Mrs Tamilia to Milford Haven where she has lived ever since.

Mrs Tamilia has many grandchildren and great-grandchildren, 15 of whom visited her in Canterbury House to wish her a happy 100th birthday last weekend.