A CHAT over a hot drink and a biscuit has been a weekly staple in the diet of older residents living in the Sedgefield area for a quarter of a century.

On September 1, 1992, the Pop in Club opened its doors to welcome the elderly and people living with disabilities into the town’s Ceddesfeld Hall.

Twenty-five years down the line, the club continues to attract dozens of members to its thrice weekly sessions and to mark its enduring success a celebration event was held in the hall on Thursday.

Founder and long-serving president Derrick Lofthouse said: “I feel genuine satisfaction and pride that it has survived and is going even stronger now than originally.”

Mr Lofthouse at the time of its creation was chairman of Sedgefield Charities, which then distributed funds to pensioners, but learned many recipients appeared to be more in need of friendship.

“I found a lot of people were more interested in chatting and wanted to see people,” he added. “They were bored in their houses rather than needing the money.”

The retired supermarket development manager, aged 89, launched the club with the help of Sedgefield Charities, which continues to cover the rent of the hall, and Sedgefield Rotary Club.

Following more than two decades in operation, the club has a membership of 56 women and four between the ages of 70 and 92.

It meets three times a week at Ceddesfeld Hall, on a Tuesday morning from 9.30am until midday, on Wednesday morning from 10am until 12.30pm and on a Thursday afternoon from 1pm until 3.30pm.

Members can drop in during the sessions for a coffee or tea and biscuits while the club also hosts annual subsidised outings which include a summer trip to Whitby.

Betty Roper, 89, of Sedgefield, is one of the original members and was a volunteer.

She said: “I’m so pleased that it is still going as when we started out we weren’t sure how it would take off.

“I still come even after 25 years, nearly every week.”

Mrs Roper was one of 66 guests at the anniversary afternoon tea which saw members entertained by singer Jeff Wright.

Admission is free but club-goers must be member of the Sedgefield Community Association and there is a charge for refreshments.