Japan's Yone Minagawa yesterday relinquished her short-held title as the world's oldest person when she died "of old age" having clocked up 114 years, news agencies report.

Minagawa was born on 4 January, 1893 in Fukuchi, Fukuoka prefecture, southwestern Japan. She was officially recognised by Guinness World Records as the world's oldest old timer on 28 January this year when the US's Emma Faust Tillman popped her clogs at 114.

The "sprightly" supercentagenarian, who raised five kids, put her longevity down to a good diet and plenty of kip, describing the latter as her "hobby".

Minagawa's crown will now pass to Indiana's Edna Parker who, having been born on 20 April 1893, is another 114-year-old set for a Guinness World Records certificate.

And, in case you're wondering, the oldest "officially-recognised" person ever was France's Jeanne Calment, who was born on 21 February 1875 and died on 4 August 1997 at the ripe old age of 122 years and 164 days. ®

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