MORE than 60 elderly people from Pershore and surrounding villages were treated to a Christmas party, following a donation from a leading housebuilder.

Persimmon Homes South Midlands donated £1,000 to Pershore Volunteers Centre enabling the group to almost double its invites from previous years.

The donation comes as part of the housebuilder's Community Champions initiative, which helps support charities and community groups in the communities where it is building.

The festive celebration, which took place at St Andrews Centre in Pershore, included afternoon tea, carol singing from Pershore town choir, as well as a take home Christmas gift and chocolates.

Laura Fullelove, volunteer and community development officer at the centre, said: “We’re thrilled, not just for the centre but also for the elderly clients that benefit from the party.

“Our annual event is always popular but due to funding we often have to restrict numbers but this year we have been able to invite more people and also pay for professional caterers. Persimmon Homes’ donation has really made the event more memorable, we can’t thank them enough.”

Carol Selway, head of sales at Persimmon Homes South Midlands, said: “Pershore is a thriving community and we are very proud to be launching our second phase of 185 homes at our Wyre Meadows development. Pershore volunteers provide such an extensive range of services so we felt they very much deserved to be named a Community Champion.”