Staff at a specialist Southport day service for Sefton residents with dementia organised an afternoon tea with a difference to celebrate Halloween this week.



The team at Brookdale Resource Centre in Ainsdale - run by the borough’s leading adult social care provider, New Directions - decided a change to the normal menu was needed at the ghostly gathering.



So out went the traditional victoria sponges and profiteroles, and in came spooky cookies, edible spider cakes and blood-red beverages.



Meanwhile, service users were also able to enjoy some high-quality musical entertainment which was in the capable hands of popular resort keyboard supremo, John Taylor.



The talented ivory tickler presented his normal varied repertoire of musical memories, sprinkled with a selection of additional Halloween-themed numbers to keep the audience in the fright night party spirit.



These included a very well-received rendition of a medley of songs from the hit Andrew Lloyd Webber musical, Phantom of the Opera



Brookdale Service Manager, Salwa Moustafa, commented: “Today’s Halloween event was all about providing fun for our service users, and thanks to the efforts of our staff they all had a really enjoyable time.



“We were also very glad to welcome John Taylor back to Brookdale. As usual he came up with a very wide-ranging programme which ensured there was something to suit all musical tastes during the course of the afternoon.”



Brookdale Resource Centre enables the carers of service users with advanced dementia to have an important respite break.



Clients enjoy a wide range of activities at the centre including arts and crafts, sensory stimulation and music and reminiscence therapies.



* For more information about Brookdale Resource Centre contact Salwa Moustafa on 01704 571026