RESIDENTS and staff at a care home threw a surprise party to celebrate a special anniversary for their manager.

Joanne Carr has been working at Sherburn Hospital care home, in Sherburn House, near Durham, for 20 years.

The home arranged a party to celebrate the event, inviting her mother and father to join them for the surprise.

Ms Carr said: “For them to do this for me is overwhelming. People have been whispering about something happening but what they’ve done is a surprise.”

“It’s a fantastic place. I travel from Richmond every day because it’s such a lovely place to work. It’s absolutely amazing and the team support and morale is fantastic.”

The home, which is located in a medieval hospital founded for lepers, has around 60 residents and 20 flats for people living in sheltered accommodation.

It is run by the Sherburn House charity, which also provides grants to relieve hardship and distress in the North East.