A WINCHESTER care home had an early Christmas celebration with the help of schoolchildren.

Six pupils from St Peter’s Catholic Primary School, in Oliver’s Battery, accompanied the Rev Mike Gardner to a christingle service at St Catherine’s View care home in Stanmore last Thursday.

The children were given a tour of the Colten Care home before Rev Gardner, who is vicar at St Luke’s Church, Stanmore, blessed the home.

Tammy Angus, activity organiser at the home in Stanmore Lane who put on the event, said: “The idea came from a christingle service I used to go to as a child. I spoke to the vicar in the summer and we thought it would be a good idea.

“The residents enjoyed making christingles a week before and we had relatives come in as well to take part. “It was such a warm atmosphere with lots of smiles and everyone was happy to take part.”

Christingles, a traditional Christmas decoration, are candles inserted into oranges with a red ribbon tied around it, while sweets are skewered onto the sides. It represents Jesus as the light of the world. There were 22 residents at the service along with 12 family members. The christingle candles were battery operated rather than flame for health and safety reasons.