Some of Whitehaven’s oldest people have had their surroundings massively improved by some of its youngest people.

The grounds and gardens of Brackenthwaite Care Home in Senhouse Street have been given a major clean-up and refurbishment by pupils from St James C of E Junior School and teenagers from Energy Coast University Technical College.

They picked litter, then planted flowers and carried out other gardening jobs, set up bird tables and repainted benches.

The Whitehaven branch of McDonald's also helped by providing litter picking equipment, waste bags and vouchers for the students' lunches.

Two van loads of waste were removed from the grounds by Copeland Borough Council’s waste team.

The youngsters also baked cakes, and after the work was finished they had tea and cake with the residents - and enjoyed a karaoke session with them.

The project was organised by Copeland Hub, a partnership between Copeland Council and Cumbria police which lays on community projects. Its manager Louise Coid said: “Generational barriers have been broken down here.

“An enormous amount of effort and hard work has gone into the event and it’s fantastic to see people of all ages rolling up their sleeves and getting their hands dirty for such a great cause.”

There are currently 24 residents at Brackenthwaite Care Home and residential manager Lisa Tugman added: “They’ve done a fantastic job.

“The garden looks quite different, it’s much more colourful, and the residents are chuffed with it all.

“It was just lovely to see them smiling ans laughing and the energy it created around the home.”