A group of young offenders joined together with the elderly for an afternoon of Christmas entertainment.

With the assistance of the police and Richmond Council’s youth offending team, the group of girls - a mixture of ex-offenders and those in need of guidance - held the party for the residents of Deer Park View care centre, in Teddington.

As part of the fun, the old and young gathered together to make Christmas crackers, take part in a chocolate treasure hunt and design their own festive homemade cards last Thursday.

Chief Inspector Steve Kyte, from Richmond police, who attended the event, said, “The youth offending program that the girls are on is designed help them make a positive contribution to the community.

“It was brilliant afternoon enjoyed by everybody and the success was all down to the girls’ hard work.”