PATIENTS at a hospice have been hitting it off with a few traditional games of conkers.

Ken Calvert, 82, of Bowburn, and Alan Webb, 70, of Newton Hall, contested a match using seasonal horse chestnuts littering the grounds of St Cuthbert’s Hospice, in Durham City.

Mr Calvert said: “It was a lot of fun.

“The last time I played was at Askew Road School in Gateshead in about 1940. It took me back.”

Mr Webb added: “I enjoyed it. There’s a lot of variety here.”

Health care assistant Gill Pinkney, who also joined in, said: “There’s always a good atmosphere in the hospice, but I’m so pleased we managed to play conkers.

“None of us where the best of shots but it was a good laugh for everybody.”

The hospice is currently marking Hospice Care Week.

It receives some public funding but must also raise a further £1.3m a year to provide free care for day guests and in-patients.

For more information, visit stcuthbertshospice.co.uk or call 0191-386-1170.