How to live longer: Five secrets to making it past 100

Britain's oldest man has put his longevity down to his "relentless work schedule" - and drinking vinegar.

Former farmer Jack Mansfield, 108, from South Derbyshire, also says he owes his incredible health to having a full English breakfast every morning, reports the Daily Mirror.

While doctors recommend exercise and a healthy diet as key to a long life, not all centenarians agree. Here are their tips to making it to a very ripe old age.

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'Old fashioned hard work'

Mansfield, who has lived through two world wars, the Great Depression and man's first foray into space, says "old-fashioned hard work" is the secret to a long life.

"The secret to getting to this age is work - it just keeps you going and I've never stopped. I would work 20 hours at a time. I never used to go to bed at night - I didn't have time," he said.

Britain's oldest woman, Bessie Camm, agrees. The secret to a long life was "hard work, knowing lovely people and good food", the 112-year-old told staff at Moorgate Lodge Care Home, where she lives.

Care home manager Anne Kay told the Rotherham Advertiser: "Bessie is an absolute inspiration. She always wants to know what's going on and as well as enjoying educational TV programmes, she enjoys watching quizzes and often answers before the contestants."

Stay single

Emma Morano, the world's oldest person, believes staying away from men for the majority of her years has kept her happy and healthy. Despite having plenty of suitors, the 116-year-old Italian refused to remarry after she split from her husband in 1938. "I didn't want to be dominated by anyone," she told the New York Times.

She also says eating three raw eggs a day has helped.

Honour your mother

Violet Brown, who, at four months younger than Morano, is the world's second-oldest person, has a Biblical take on her staying power. "Honour your mother and father so your days may be long," she told her local newspaper, the Jamaican Gleaner, referring to the Ten Commandments.

Brown credits her respect for family, life and people in general, as well as a lot of hard work when she was younger, for helping her lead a fruitful life.

Whiskey in your coffee

While Brown says she avoids "rum and dem tings", says the Gleaner, the US's oldest surviving World War II veteran adds whiskey to his morning coffee and smokes up to 12 cigars a day. "It's just like medicine," 110-year-old Richard Overton told the Washington Post.

Not being picky

Asia's oldest person is Nabi Tajima, 116, and according to a profile published by the Japanese health ministry, the secret to her longevity is eating three meals day.

Another profiled centenarian, Junichiro Misawa, said his good health and long life was due to "having a few evening drinks a week and not being picky about food".

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