A BAND of care home residents and staff members are raising their voices to raise money by recording a charity Christmas CD.

The group, from the Willow Green care home on Eastbourne Road, Darlington, are recording a medley of festive favourites to raise funds for Dementia UK.

Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer and I wish it Could be Christmas Everyday are among the hits being sung by the residents whose ages range from the early 80s to 94.

Nicola Laycock, activities co-ordinator at Willow Green, said the residents were enjoying rehearsing and recording the album.

She added: We wanted to raise awareness of dementia; people hear the word ‘dementia’ and straight away they are scared, they think it is bad thing.

“We are doing this to try and make it not as scary, a lot of the residents that are doing it have dementia and we are just trying to put it out there that it doesn’t have to be the end of normality.”

The residents and staff members have been rehearsing hard for the album which is being recorded at The Forum music centre on Borough Road.

When complete it will be on sale at Willow Green in the run up to Christmas.