THE MP for Southend West welcome dozens of residents aged 100 and over to a record breaking tea party.

Sir David Amess held his 13th annual centenarians tea party at the Iveagh Hall in Leigh Road, Leigh in an attempt to break the world record for the largest gathering of centenarians.

The event was also attended by both the mayors of Southend and Castle Point as well as a host of volunteers from the Royal British Legion, the Leigh Lions and a group of sixth form students from Westcliff High School for Boys.

Sir David said: “It was wonderful to see so many familiar faces as well as some new centenarians who were attending for the first time.

“In the year that we are about to mark the centenary of the end of the First World War, it was a particular pleasure to once again have so many centenarians attend our annual tea party to share with those present what they had done throughout their lives. Those who had been servicewomen and servicemen we owe so much to.”