Grace Jones was the last person alive in the UK to be born in the 1800s (Simon Hughes)
Grace Jones was the last person alive in the UK to be born in the 1800s (Simon Hughes)

The oldest person in the UK, Grace Jones, has died at the age of 113, her MP has confirmed.

Jones, who was born on 7 December, 1899, also held the title of being the only person alive in Britain who was born in the 1800s.

Lib Dem MP for Southwark and Bermondsey, Simon Hughes, confirmed she had died peacefully in St Thomas' Hospital, where she had spent the last few weeks receiving treatment after suffering a fall at her flat in Bermondsey. She was aged 113 years and 342 days.

Jones became the oldest living person in the country on 29 February when the woman who previously held the title, Violet Wood, died.

She also was confirmed to be the sixth oldest person in the world.

She never married, but was engaged before her fiancé was killed during World War 1.

Jones lived with her mother, brother and sister until the final member of her close family, George, died about 13 years ago.

Hughes paid tribute to the centenarian, who he said was "mentally as bright as a button" right until her death.

He added: "Grace will be dearly missed by her many friends and neighbours and by the wider Bermondsey community."

"We are all very sad today but we pay tribute to Grace for her wonderful, vibrant and long life, for her commitment to her faith, her family and her community, and we know that a woman of such strong Christian faith faced death with no fear.

"Although she found her failing strength frustrating, right up until her last week Grace's memory and intellect were undimmed.

"All those who met Grace knew they had met one of London's most doughty individuals and she will never be forgotten."

Arrangements for her funeral will be announced in due course.