Residents and staff from Bridgwater’s Avalon Nursing Home were among the crowds enjoying the annual Bridgwater Fair.

The party of 12 made the most of yesterday’s sunny morning to travel the short distance between their dementia care home and St Matthews Field where the Fair has been taking place for over 600 years.

Avalon’s activities co-ordinator, Lisa Priddice, said: “The stallholders were very kind and supportive, taking time to speak to our residents and letting them sample their sweets free of charge.

“Our ladies and gents are all familiar with the Fair and they loved telling us about visits they’d had in their younger days and were so happy to be there.

“They really enjoyed all the sights, sounds and smells, and bought themselves a few treats like perfume, sweets, candy floss, fudge and savoury nibbles.”

Resident David Billing said: “The food being cooked smelled delicious, and the cheese samples I was given from the chutney stall were creamy and rich – I really enjoyed them.”

Resident Richard Cockell chatted with staff about the horses he used to rear and shared his memories of a funfair he went to in Essex as a boy.

The group rounded off their outing with a cuppa and cake at Westfield Church Café.

Lisa Priddice said: “The team at the café were also lovely, and took time to come over and chat with our group about their morning and the things they had bought at the Fair.”

Bridgwater Fair is running from Wednesday 25 September to Saturday 28 September at St Matthews Field near the town centre.

The outing is part of a busy programme of activities organised by the team at Avalon. The nursing home is run by award-winning dementia care providers, Camelot Care, who also run homes in Wellington, Yeovil and Plymouth, and have a new home due to open in Holsworthy in 2025.