A CARE home team who helped a 100-year-old resident to fly a plane to celebrate her birthday have scooped a top award.

Nickie Brooks and Gaynor Hall, from the Activities and Lifestyle Team at Lavender Hills in Ramsbottom, picked up the Care Home Activities Organiser Award at the Great North West Care Awards 2018 last week.

The duo inspired judges with their dedication and daily personalised activities programme, standing out against competition from across the region.

They will now go forward to the national finals in Birmingham next March.

Helen Inman, manager at Lavender Hills, said: “We are thrilled we have won this award, we are so lucky to have an amazing team who go above and beyond to ensure our residents get the best quality of life at Lavender Hills.”

Among the amazing events organised by the pair and their team was a resplendent 1940s themed party for residents Margaret and Bill Jones's diamond wedding anniversary.

Their activities also attracted significant media attention for the 100th birthday of resident Mary Bell.

In a sweet surprise Extreme Cake Makers' Molly Robbins dropped in on her 1930s themed party with a huge cake in the shape of a theatre advert all about Mrs Bell.

The cake included a picture of Mrs Bell from the 1930s in face edible paint, complete with flashing lights and popcorn ­designed to take her back 80 years to her time as an usherette in La Scala theatre with her late husband.

Then to top the occasion off Ms Brooks, Ms Gaynor and others from the Lavender Hills and Millennium team, organised for the grandmother to live one of her lifelong dreams and fly a plane.

Lavender Hills said that since Ms Brooks and Ms Hall joined Lavender Hills earlier this year "the atmosphere has become exciting and the lives of residents has never been better".

Tirelessly committed Ms Brooks and Ms Hall are currently working on a number of community projects, including a scheme to help bridge the gap between generations involving schools across the borough.