Though she suffered a couple of falls in recent months and spent her 108th birthday in the Royal Victoria Hospital, Mrs Thomson retained her independent spirit into her later years, living alone at her own Broughty home until very recently.

She hit the headlines three years ago when it was revealed she still regularly drove to church in Invergowrie at the age of 105 — making her Britain’s oldest motorist.

The Rev Robert Ramsay, of Invergowrie Parish Church, said the stalwart member of his congregation was simply an “amazing lady”.

“I’ve been on Tayside 13 years now, and during that time she very seldom missed a service — and until three years ago she was driving to them.

“After that we arranged for someone to collect her on Sundays.

“Stories about Sheila Thomson are legion — she was an amazing lady.”

Mrs Thomson spent her early life in Carnoustie before moving to Newport with her family, where she went to school.

She and husband Alec moved to Invergowrie at the start of the Second World War and lived there for over 40 years. They moved to Broughty Ferry in 1983, but Mrs Thomson was widowed soon afterwards.

Her funeral will be held at Invergowrie Church on Monday at 2pm.