Tea cosy record

Bupa care home residents in Brandon are celebrating with a good old-fashioned cup of tea after helping set a new Guinness World Record for knitting the world's biggest tea cosy.

Bupa care home residents in Brandon are celebrating with a good old-fashioned cup of tea after helping set a new Guinness World Record for knitting the world's biggest tea cosy.

The record was attempted to raise awareness of Bupa's Communi-tea Week, which runsa from April (20 - 26, a giant tea party which helps tackle the issue of isolation and loneliness of older people.

As part of Communi-tea Week and to celebrate the world record, residents of Brandon Park Residential and Nursing Home are hosting tea party on Friday 24th of April from 3pm and are inviting older people in the local community to join them.

Lisa Elmy, home manager, said, 'Not that we ever need an excuse to put the kettle on, but now we can raise our mugs in celebration of a great cause and a world record. Communi-tea Week offers the perfect chance to help someone who may be struggling on their own, so there'll be plenty of tea and entertainment to welcome any new friends and faces.'

Residents in more than 300 Bupa care homes across the UK, Spain and New Zealand took part in the record attempt after urging their communities to help by sending in their own knitted squares for the giant tea cosy. This year's Communi-tea Week will also see a record number of tea parties taking place throughout the country, with thousands of residents inviting their local communities through the door.

Members of the community who would like to attend should call the home on 01842 812400.

This is the third year that Bupa has organised Communi-tea Week, which attracts sponsorship from Tetleys, McVities and Premier Foods. A number of care homes are also using their Communi-tea events to help raise funds for Parkinson's Disease Society, with any money raised being matched by Bupa Community Connections.