While Paris was celebrating the opening of the 33rd summer Olympiad, residents at a Dymock care home were lighting their own Olympic torch and engaging in fierce competition.

Staff at Hill Ash House in Dymock, a luxury care home for dementia sufferers, devised an innovative way for residents and their families to celebrate the Olympics- and on the afternoon of Friday July 24, they made full use of the stunning parkland grounds to deliver the event.

The Hill Ash Games opened with the lighting of the Olympic flame.

Two teams, aged from 6-99 then started with a full warm up, followed by intense competition in events including the bean bag toss, basketball, skittles and football.

Every sport was adapted and delivered so that both able bodied and the disabled could compete as equals.

Staff had decked out the house and gardens with bunting, balloons and flags, and everyone dressed up in full sporting attire.

Participants and spectators also enjoyed refreshments and homemade cake from the train themed Whistlestop cafe.

The weather was kind, and after a thrilling afternoon, the trophy was presented to the yellow team captain, Ken Jones, who also celebrated his 99th birthday in style this week.

On Wednesday July 31, Ken was treated to a party with balloon games, followed by lunch on the terrace with his family and then an afternoon of entertainment from a local musician.

Much dancing and merriment ensued.

Michele Harrison, the manager of Hill Ash House said: “People forget that individuals with dementia can still enjoy sports and being competitive and this has been a fantastic opportunity for us to showcase the ways in which we can adapt activities to encourage vitality and have great fun!

"We’ve also recently opened our new Pavilion, cafe and lakeside terrace, so it was very exciting for us to unveil this fabulous development too - even the mother duck and her six ducklings who have been nesting in the reeds of our large lake, made an appearance and paraded out for the gathering!”