AN INTERGENERATIONAL experiment broadcast on television has inspired a care home to start a playgroup for young and old.

Staff at Bethany House Care Home, in Woodham, Newton Aycliffe, hope to improve the health and happiness of its residents and elderly day centre regulars through play with babies and toddlers.

The Wrinkles and Dimples playgroup, which had its first two sessions this week, was sparked by Channel 4's Old People's Home for Four-Year-Old's.

The two-part reality programme aired over the summer and followed pre-schoolers as they shared the classroom with pensioners for six weeks.

Sue Foster, care home manager, said: "With the research that is going on and the programme, it inspired me to think that it would work here.

"I'm hoping for stimulation for clients that don't get to mix with other people or who don't join in activities. And I hope we can run it for years."

Ms Foster and colleague Connie Perry, a care worker and playgroup leader, will invite around five residents or day centre attenders to join the session at a time, rotating through the morning.

The older generation will get the chance to look on as babies and toddlers play with toys, make a noise and enjoy messy play.

And it is hoped the children and their parents will eventually be drawn together - bringing "energy, knowledge and enthusiasm" to each others' lives.

Sharon Hackett, manager of the day centre, which welcomes elderly people from across the area, said: "In the Channel 4 programme at first some of the older people didn't want to interact but by mid-study even a man on the show who was very grump was on the floor playing with the children.

"There was a change in mental health and mobility. Because children are non-judgemental, it just seemed to work."

Dozens of youngsters and their parents turned out to Bethany Centre on Wednesday for the first meeting of Wrinkles and Dimples, advertised through leaflets and on social media.

Among the mothers at the playgroup was Shell Bamford-Stewart, who brought her ten-week-old daughter Millie.

She said: "I just think it's a nice idea and I've never been to anything like this before. I watched the programme back in August and it did help the older people.

"I have a three-year-old who would go straight to them."

Wrinkles and Dimples runs every Wednesday and Friday from 10am until 11.30am, and will run during the half-term break.

Admission is £1.50 plus 50p per additional child and includes refreshments and a snack.

For more information call 01325 300422, email wrinklesanddimples@gmail.com or find @WrinklesandDimplesplaygroup on Facebook.