OLIVER Twist came to life with an ‘absolutely spectacular’ performance by residents, staff and school pupils at an Andover care home on Saturday.

Ashbourne Court Care Home, in Salisbury Road, put on the production of the Charles Dickens classic, with the help of community groups, families, team members and residents.

Costumes and props were borrowed from Harrow Way School and children from Rookwood also joined the stage for the afternoon.

Ashbourne’s activity co-ordinator Caroline Aktas said: “It was absolutely spectacular, everyone was so happy and involved with it and that was the aim.

“All 64 of the residents attended for the hour, and the mayor and mayoress also came and said the atmosphere was lovely.

“It’s the first time I have ever done something like this. I abbreviated Charles Dickens’ Oliver Twist down to three pages!”

The initiative came from the care home’s umbrella organisation Brighterkind which sets each residence a challenge along the theme of “once upon a time.”

Ms Aktas asked the residents what their favourite books were as a child with Oliver Twist was found to be the evident winner.

Six residents took part in the production with ten staff members, in front of an audience filled with family, friends and other residents.

Ms Atkas added: “Our care home manager Raj Ayyappan played Mr Bumble, and he made the show, he was hilarious.”