A group of students have put on a special Christmas concert for residents of a dementia care home.

The students, who attend Bridgwater and Taunton College, have entertained Avalon Nursing Home residents with renditions of Christmas favourites and contemporary hits.

Northgate Primary school pupils have also welcomed residents to the dress rehearsal of their nativity.

<hr>

Read more: What to watch on TV over the Christmas period

<hr>

The college’s health and social care programme staff have joined forces with the nursing home's employees to brainstorm a series of activities tailored to benefit students and residents.

The students have paid two visits this academic year, the first introducing them to the residents through an art and craft session and the second featuring carol singing.

Lisa Priddice, Avalon's activities co-ordinator, said: "The residents loved the students and staff singing and a lot of them joined in with their familiar favourites."

Bridgwater Mercury: Care home residents were invited to Northgate Primary School’s nativity dress rehearsal (L-R)

Apart from traditional carols such as Away in a Manger, Silent Night, and Little Donkey, the group also performed popular Christmas tunes like Last Christmas, Merry Christmas Everybody, and Fairy Tale of New York.

They received support from operations manager James Marchant, who played the keyboard for the singers during his time off.

Mr Marchant's wife, also a lecturer of the health and social care programme, Claire, said: "We're keen to visit Avalon regularly because it provides valuable work experience for our students that is highly relevant to their career aspirations, and they thoroughly enjoy it."

Residents of Avalon are familiar with Northgate Primary pupils' weekly visits and cherish the interaction with the younger lot.

In a twist of events, some residents visited the school to watch the children's nativity play dress rehearsal.

Ms Priddice said visiting residents were "spellbound" by the performance.

Little Montessori nursery tots also paid their regular visit to the Avalon residents to take part in seasonal craft activities together.

Commenting on the wider implications of these intergenerational visits, Ms Priddice said: "It allows our ladies and gents to relive their childhood or the days when their own children were small, and they love having little ones in the home."