ELDERLY residents at a Winchester care home have thanked two of their regular volunteers for dedicating a year of their lives to them - at just the tender age of just four.

Twins James and Arabella Haidar have been going to the Old Parsonage Home in Otterbourne almost a year to the day, spending around an hour after pre-school to entertain and read to the home's residents.

And it's not just older ladies and gents who get a kick out of the duo - who often run ragged like little energiser bunnies - but the staff as well.

The Compton and Shawford preschoolers play games, learn the alphabet and keep their audience giggling on end with their shenanigans.

They were even allowed to lick the icing from the cake on Monday as part of the celebration of their year of volunteering, which mum Elizabeth said was originally just about keeping them busy after school.

But now it's much more about engaging with older people - something Mrs Haidar said every child should try their hand at, strongly advocating the importance of volunteering.

“It just totally changes the children's focus,” the 45-year-old said. “It's good for them. I want them to be taught how to socialise, particularly with older people and to communicate with the elderly which is so important.

“Half the people who come here can get really down and miserable if there's no one to come and visit them so it's nice for the children to come here and help. It brings a little bit of life to them. The staff are fantastic and they are brilliant with the children too.”

The former nurse, of Otterbourne Road, added: “I needed to fill my time and this seemed like the perfect opportunity to do something for people of the community but also get the kids to interact with people which hopefully they will learn from. The focus is on volunteering and to get other kids doing this. It doesn't cost anything to do this.”

Though they will have to cut back on volunteering when they start “big school” in September - as James heads to Pilgrims and Arabella to St Swithun's - it seems they're hell-bent to follow in the footsteps laid out for them as Arabella wants to become a nurse and her brother a doctor.

Sylvia Clarke, 75, has been enjoying their company since she became a resident in September.

“It's nice to see the little ones,” she said. “I know some of the older ladies get a bit tired but the majority of people are amazing with them, and it certainly makes a difference. They bring something new and significant each day. It's really nice.”