ELDERLY residents will be able to spend more time outdoors thanks to the help of a local business to install a ramp at their care home.

Lack of accessibility to the bottom of the garden at Red Brick Care Home in Prudhoe meant residents were not able to utilise all of their outdoor space, but activities manager Martin Foster said the home lacked the funds to install a ramp.

He said: “We have got a lovely cherry blossom tree which gives residents plenty of cover in the sunshine and we got donated a barbecue from one of the residents’ families so spending time in the garden is great.

“A wheelchair ramp to the bottom of the garden was going to cost too much money so I approached the local county councillor Gordon Stewart who then put me in touch with Thompsons who were kind enough to say they would come out and do it for free for us. It’s a ramp to the bottom of the garden with handrails down the side.

“It’s going to open up a lot of opportunities for the residents to use the garden. They are ecstatic and so are their families.”

Michael Lee, site manager at Thompsons of Prudhoe, said: “When we were first asked to help provide some of the manual labour to put a ramp down to a new patio area, I was surprised to learn how many of our employees had family, friends or knew people living at Red Brick House.

“It’s already a great place for them to spend their later years, but when Martin told us of his plans to improve access to the garden for residents in wheelchairs, or using walkers, we were keen to donate the materials and carry out the building work.

“Our lads have enjoyed being involved in such a worthwhile project and hope those living there enjoy using their new garden.”