GUESTS were bowled over at the opening of a lunch club with a difference at the region’s leading cricket ground.

Dining By The Boundary is a stylish new lunch club for older people which has opened at the home of Durham County Cricket Club.

Director of cricket and County Championship-winning former head coach Geoff Cook was among the guests as the stylish new lunch club was launched today (THURS) at the Emirates International Cricket Ground, in Chester-le-Street.

Diners tucked into a wholesome meal of beef and vegetable stew, topped with herb dumplings, followed by apple pie with ice cream for dessert at the first meeting of the monthly club.

Dining By The Boundary has been developed by Age UK County Durham and Durham County Cricket Foundation to bring older people together with good food and company.

It is the latest lunch club to be developed as part of the award-winning Come Eat Together project, a lottery-funded scheme to combat loneliness and promote good nutrition by bringing older people together over food.

On the last Thursday of each month, starting at 1pm, diners can enjoy a freshly cooked two-course meal with tea or coffee, followed by an activity, for £6.

Harriet Gibbon, Chief Executive Age UK County Durham said “Some people are not motivated to cook and eat alone and following, for example, bereavement they become socially isolated.

“This can affect an older person’s health and wellbeing and ability to remain independent.

“We are thrilled to be working with the Durham County Cricket Foundation on this important project which improves the lives of older people”.

The launch included a presentation by the a community sewing project “Caught and Sewed,” which attempts to capture the history of the cricket club on 22 yards of hand-stitched cloth.