History was relived at a Cross Hills care home. The dining room at Anchor Homes’s Townend Close was decked out with bunting and Union Flags for a late-1940s street party.

Residents enjoyed a strawberry and cream tea and meals made using period recipes, there was classic wartime music — including the sounds of forces’ sweetheart Vera Lynn — and staff donned costumes from the era.

One of the residents, 80-year-old Wilf Pickles, said the event — last Thursday — had evoked happy memories.

He added: “I really enjoyed it. It’s been a good do, just like everything else here.

“I like nostalgia events, especially listening to the music from the past. It brings back happy memories of my youth. I’ve always liked strawberries and cream but now I’m diabetic I can’t put sugar on them so they don’t taste as good as they used to!”

Townend Close care manager Margaret Bishop said: “We put on a lot of themed activities here because the residents really enjoy them. It’s important to offer interesting events, which stimulate the residents mentally and physically.

“Despite food shortages during the war, fruit and veg, which could be grown in people’s gardens, was more available.”