PHOTOGRAPHY students swapped stories with the older generation after being tasked to create a marketing campaign for a project aimed at tackling loneliness.

The students from Cleveland College of Art and Design received a visit from 92-year-old Janet Pyle, a member of Ageing Better Middlesbrough, who talked in length about her life and also took part in a photo shoot.

The pensioner, from Marton, Middlesbrough, who was born in Trimdon, County Durham, still swims five times a week and regularly plays online Scrabble on her iPad with relatives living abroad.

Mrs Pyle was also joined by Araf Chohan, Stuart Brown and Helena Gordon, relative spring chickens, aged 65, 64 and 63 respectively.

As part of their second year BTEC Extended Diploma in Photography course, the students were asked to tackle the stigma that some attach to older people and send a message that they still have skills and are doing amazing things in their communities.

Rebecca Hughes, from Ageing Better Middlesbrough, a lottery funded programme being led by Middlesbrough and Stockton Mind, said: “It was fantastic to see a relationship between young and old develop over a cup of tea and a chat.

“Part of our programme is about reducing loneliness and isolation using technology, keeping in touch with family and friends and the students really picked up on that.”

Photography student Nina Gibson, 18, from Yarm, said: “Janet gave me a good giggle and it is like she is still 21 in her head, which is a great attitude to have.

“It was a lovely project to work on and shows that people don’t change just because they are getting older.”