ELDERLY residents at Half Acre House enjoyed cream cakes and entertainment at their 20th charity garden party.

But wet weather meant a temporary change of location with the furniture moved back into the Georgian House to accommodate residents and the Rochdale Junior Big Band.

The rain faded into sunshine and visitors returned to the garden to enjoy afternoon tea with strawberry scones, hot-dogs and homemade cakes.

Guests included the mayor and mayoress,Councillor Keith Swift and Sue Etchells, and MP Jim Dobbin, with the event raising £450 for a local charity to be decided by residents.

The owner, Anita Lewis, said: "In 20 years we have only once held the event indoors, this threatened to be our second. But we defied the weather to bring a happy tradition to our elderly residents.  Visitors numbers were down but spirits were up.  All enjoyed the sounds of the young people with the big band sound, who delighted everyone with their varied talents.  Playing tunes from bygone days, added moments of reminiscence to the occasion, despite the rainy afternoon in June. Friends of Half Acre helped to make the day a success by their volunteer work and local shops of Rochdale kindly donated a large array of fabulous prizes from slow cookers and bathroom accessories, to meals out at local restaurants. One of the last prizes to be won was by the mayoress, which was a weeks session at 'Fitness First’ gym at Sandbrook Park - guests wished her well on her new fitness venture."