TWO team members at Riverside Court Care Home in Maryport were on hand to make another Christmas extra special for the residents who live there.

Trish Robinson and Lisa Fort this year worked their 29th and 19th Christmas Days in a row, having never missed one since they started working at the care home which provides residential, nursing and dementia care.

December 25th started early for the pair, who ran the Magic Moments Activities programme for the residents at the home.

The tables in the dining room were dressed with festive decorations ready for breakfast and preparations made to welcome the local choir who kicked off the celebrations at the home with a rendition of carols.

A quick change saw the ladies transformed into Santa’s helpers ready to greet residents in the lounge and deliver presents to those who preferred to spend the morning in their rooms with visitors.

 Lisa said : “Our residents are our second family and they are the reason we have worked every single Christmas day. We both have daughters who are grown up now, but when they were younger, they used to come into work with us on Christmas Day.

"They loved spending time with our residents and of course our residents loved making a big fuss of them.

 “We both feel very lucky to spend the day celebrating with those that we help care for and their families.

"Whether it’s handing out presents, organising party games or sitting quietly with someone who wants a chance to reminisce about Christmas' gone by, we just want to make the day as special as we can.”

After work, Trish joined her family at her daughter’s house and Lisa headed to her sister’s to put her feet up and watch a Christmas film.

Times and Star: It was a fun Christmas Day for all the staff.It was a fun Christmas Day for all the staff. (Image: Supplied)

They both returned to work on Boxing Day to organise more festive fun for their residents.

Trish and Lisa have been running a packed timetable of activities leading up to the big day, with visiting singers and musicians, including the Flimby Saxhorn brass band, pantomime performers and children from local schools coming to sing carols.

Residents have also been enjoying trips out in the community including a dinner dance at The Royal British Legion and parties and nativity plays at local schools.

Riverside Court Care Home is located in Salmoor Way, Irish Street, Maryport and is part of Four Seasons Health Care.