A DAY centre rounded off a successful first year with an extravagant party that cemented its status as a hub for elderly residents.

Witney Day Centre celebrated its first anniversary at its Ceewood Hall home, on Fettiplace Road, with more than 50 people attending the festivities.

Clients were treated to a photo booth, exercises, party games and more on Thursday, with people coming from all over the district to join in the fun.

The day centre boasts more than 40 members and has gone from strength to strength since it was started by Witney residents Graeme and Linda Young.

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The couple take pride in going the extra mile for their clients and did everything possible to ensure they could enjoy the event.

Mrs Young said: "We all have a good laugh - it's like a big family.

"It's a very caring group that takes interest in people's lives all week, not just on a Thursday.

"One lady phoned in the morning and said she'd have to miss out because it was too cold, so Graeme went to pick her up so she could come.

"She came in with a blanket wrapped around her but she still got to enjoy it."

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The hall was adorned with decorations for the party, which took place during the day centre's weekly slot of 10am to 2.30pm on Thursday.

Witney mayor Brenda Churchill and county councillor for Witney South and Central Laura Price joined 38 clients and 19 volunteers for the event at the packed-out venue.

The initiative has become popular with pensioners after it was established in the wake of cuts to the county's centres.

In 2017, Oxfordshire County Council announced the number of daytime support centres for pensioners would fall from 22 to eight by 2020.

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Mr and Mrs Young set up the initiative after The Elms health and wellbeing centre in Witney closed its doors after similar cuts.

Each session costs £7.50 and residents come from as far as Carterton, with some travelling on the day centre's own minibus.

The initiative recently met another of its targets by achieving charitable status, which Mrs Young explained will help safeguard its long term future.

She said: "We want this to continue further than we can be involved.

"It would be great if there were a group of trustees so this was still going 30 years down the line."