CARE home residents reeled off a collection of hits as they recorded a special CD to celebrate the facility's 10th birthday.

MHA Homestead Care Home, in Carterton, put the finishing touches to its Treasured Memories record on Tuesday, with dozens of people belting out their favourite songs.

The CD will be available at the facility's 10th anniversary celebration on Sunday, June 23, exactly a decade after it officially opened.

The idea has taken several months to come to fruition since it was first mooted in January, but volunteer co-ordinator, Kay Hickinbottom revealed it was worth the wait.

Read also: Carterton woman set to climb Kilimanjaro

She said: "We wanted to do something exciting to mark the anniversary

"It took a long time to co-ordinate but it has been a real team effort."

Ms Hickinbottom and colleague Kinga Mustafa both played a key part in the project, which was the brainchild of activity co-ordinator Lorraine Hilder.

For the last five years, the care home has provided weekly music therapy sessions to groups and individual residents.

This gives dozens of people the chance to sing a range of tunes they remember fondly from their younger years, many of which feature on the CD.

Read also: Carterton Primary School 'requires improvement'

Among the songs included are You are my Sunshine, which is 50-years-old this year, and the music hall classic, It's a Long Way to Tipperary.

The CD even strikes a patriotic tone, with a the National Anthem featuring too.

Between 20 and 30 people regularly attend each music therapy session, almost half of the care home's population of 68.

These are run by music therapist Laura Bolton, while singer songwriter, Jess Hall, led Tuesday's recording sessions, which took place in the morning and the afternoon.

Read also: Police warning after skate park fire

Ms Hickinbottom added: "It's a big part of life here, but only one of many great things going on.

"There's been a real buzz around the home when we've been recording."

About 15 of the care home's 100 staff also feature in the CD, with all songs chosen by residents.

A short film showing how the CD was put together will be released alongside the record's release next month.

MHA provides care, accommodation and support services for more than 18,000 older people across the country.

The charity is a leading provider of music therapy in dementia care, which Ms Hickinbottom explained falls in line with its values of 'Life Later Life Well'.

Read also: Troubled care home that 'trapped' residents criticised again

MHA's musical initiatives were even featured in the BBC One documentary, Our Dementia Choir, which was broadcast earlier this month.

The Homestead welcomed its first resident in 2008, but officially opened on June 23, 2009.

A purpose-built building on the Shilton Park estate, the facility specialises in supporting people with residential and dementia care needs.

Residents at the home can further indulge their musical sides in the bar, which has its very own jukebox and piano.

The Homestead also boasts a hairdressing salon, a cafe and a large day area leading out into an enclosed therapeutic garden area.

For more information on The Homestead, visit mha.org.uk/care-homes.