CARE home residents were all smiles as the Mayor of Banbury formally opened their new 'seaside lounge' at a double celebration.

To open the new space at The Ridings in Calder Close staff organised a special British seaside-themed party for residents and guests last Thursday.

Visitors enjoyed cakes baked by the residents and music played by Bob Dainty of Radio Horton.

Banbury Mayor Gordon Ross attended and cut the ribbon to open the new space, a relaxing place for residents to sit and chat filled with nautical decorations.

The Ridings manager Karen Kyme said: "It was wonderful to have the Mayor here to celebrate this achievement with us.

"He was very complimentary, saying the residents were obviously well looked-after and how lucky they were to live in such a lovely place."

The care home was also toasting its newly-earned 'Anchor Inspires' accreditation, which recognises outstanding specialist dementia care.

Only a handful of care homes run by Anchor – a not-for-profit housing and care provider – have achieved the accreditation after passing a rigorous assessment.

Ms Kyme added: "I am very proud of the team here and all their hard work. Becoming an Anchor Inspires home demonstrates our dedication to helping people living with dementia to get the most out of life.

"Person-centred care is all about valuing the individual. The Anchor Inspires accreditation emphasises that one size does not fit all and the team at The Ridings have embedded this into every element of their residents’ lives."

The new room follows an initiative over the winter which saw residents at The Ridings take part in a knitting project, carefully crafting scores of miniature hats to be placed on the lids of Innocent smoothies.

For every bottle sold over the coming year a 25p donation will be made to county-wide charity Age UK Oxfordshire.