DOZENS of ukelele players twanged their instruments to entertain guests – including the Lord Lieutenant of County Durham – at an event to celebrate national Older People's Day.

Members of Age UK Darlington performed at Darlington Community Fire Station on Thursday (October 1), in an event that also celebrated two years of the charity's Good Friends project.

It also coincided with Chief Fire Officers’ Association (CFOA) home safety week and marked the start of a new partnership between the charity and County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Service, as Age UK Darlington has taken over the running of community rooms at Darlington fire station.

As well as music from Age UK Darlington's talented ukelele band, participants also enjoyed tea and cake.

Speeches came from Age UK Darlington chief officer Gillian Peel Darlington's deputy mayor Brian Jones, Lord Lieutenant Sue Snowdon and chief fire officer Stuart Errington.

On the run up to the event fire officers had tested electric blankets for people for free. Out of the 92 blankets they had tested, 42 were unsafe. They had also seen 500 members of the public through their doors throughout the week.

Mr Errington said: “Figures show that almost half of all fire deaths in the UK involve people over the age of 60 and by the time someone reaches 80 they are 10 times more like to die in a fire than someone under 30.

"It is important for us to work with organisations such as Age UK to advise older people how to stay safe and well in their homes and reduce the risks of fire."

Mrs Peel added: "We were delighted to be offered the chance to manage the community safety rooms at the fire Station.

"It enables us to develop a wider range of activities and to generate a small amount of rental income which will support both organisations.

"Already, we have a German language class and a gardening club, which will take place in the Memorial Garden, in the pipeline.”