Young and old come together in Telford to improve happiness

In a similar way to the social experiment aired recently on Channel 4, youngsters at Tortoise Nursery, in Holyhead Road, Wellington, have been paying regular visits to residents at the neighbouring Morris Care Centre.

The Channel 4 show, Old People's Home for 4 Year Olds, saw a nursery group share their classroom with pensioners and the results showed it improved the strength and mobility of the older generation.

The youngsters at Tortoise Nursery have been visiting the care home a couple of times a month and are hoping to visit even more regularly in the future.

The trips have been improving the happiness of care home residents and helping them to recall fond memories.

Steph Thomas, nursery manager, said: "We are only a stone's throw away from the care home.

"The children had been going over at Christmas and Easter but we phoned the deputy manager to ask if they wanted us to come over more regularly. "They've been showing them how to make things from Play-Doh or Lego.

"They've been singing together and playing board games with them. Many of the residents are clapping along and joining in.

"The children have loved it. Some of them were really shy at first but it has built up their confidence." Claire Smith, deputy care home manager, added: "Not only do the children love coming here, it gives a lot of residents fond memories of the past when they may have had children and grandchildren around.

"It gives them the feel-good factor. You see their mood changing and they look forward to it.

"They try and join in, they will sing and look at books.

"We invite them to all the activities we have here, including birthday parties."