PENSIONERS willingly went behind bars for a festive taste of prison life, courtesy of a group of women inmates.

Almost 60 senior citizens were invited to Low Newton, a women's prison on the outskirts of Durham, for a Christmas party with a difference.

Durham's Mayor and Mayoress, Councillor George and Marian Cowper, also enjoyed the festive fare, along with the party of pensioners from city council-run day centres in the villages of Meadowfield and Esh Winning. They were welcomed by prison governor Dave Thompson and inmates, who prepared a traditional three-course turkey lunch with all the trimmings for their guests.

Following the meal a group of the women sang a selection of Christmas carols, before the event was rounded off with a bingo session.

All the prizes were provided by the women prisoners, who take pride in putting on a day to remember for their elderly guests. Joy Dwyer, a senior welfare officer with the council's City Care team, said: "They've done this for a couple of years now and word has got round what a marvellous do they put on, so we have no shortage of volunteers, even though it means going into the prison."