FOUR tourists tried to cheer up passers-by yesterday with a strange town centre picnic.

The women, in fancy dress, waved and smiled at people in Scar Top, outside the tourist office in Barnard Castle.

One of the women, Sally Hartley, had fallen and damaged her wrist, which was bandaged and in a sling, so friends Ann Hill, Julie Olateju and Bernadette Fenton put their arms in slings to match.

Ms Olateju wore a Santa hat and the others wore tiaras and carried fairy wands.

The four are on holiday this week at a cottage in Romaldkirk, along with other members of the group. They are all from the Mansfield area in the midlands.

Ms Fenton said, "People in our Growing Old Disgracefully group believe in having fun and causing some laughs, rather than just sitting at home. We are having a really jolly holiday.