A CLUB for Teesdale residents is celebrating a string of anniversaries.

Members of Gainford Day Club gathered yesterday to celebrate the club's fifth anniversary.

Also at the party were three sets of members who have recently celebrated important marriage milestones.

Ted and Doreen Goodchild recently celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary, Tom and Vera Robinson have been married for 55 years, and Joe and Mona Watson are celebrating their golden anniversary.

This year is also the 10th anniversary of Teesdale Day Clubs.

Peter Blackmore, the manager of Teesdale Day Clubs, said the clubs give elderly and isolated people a chance to get together and socialise, which they may not normally be able to do.

There are nine day clubs across Teesdale with 11 staff and 90 volunteers who provide a three-course meal once a week to more than 200 members.

Mr Blackmore said: "In the last year, we've made more than 7,500 meals.

"The good thing about running an association as we do is we can provide transport to people who might not normally be able to come.

"The majority of our members are single and it's nice to have all these anniversaries."

Each of the couples said they enjoyed coming to the club to meet up with their friends.

Mr Goodchild, who was a day late for his wedding because of unreliable transport as he tried to return home from post-war France, said: "We really like coming here, it's a wonderful institution.

"The club's growing all the time, it gives you a chance to get in on the action."