IT might only be late summer, but staff, volunteers and residents at Abbeyfield Ilkley are starting their festive preparations early this year.

Everybody gathered together in the activity room at Grove House last Wednesday to begin mixing the ingredients for their yearly Christmas cake.

Guests from the community joined in the fun, shared a coffee and stirred up some yuletide spirit at the event, which marked the start of their lead-up to Abbeyfield’s Coping At Christmas campaign, where activities and hot meals are offered to lonely older people during te festive period.

Abbeyfield Ilkley events co-ordinator, Zoe McKenzie, said: “We always make a cake and our residents look forward to feeding it in the run-up to Christmas.

“We’re also looking forward to the possibility of some guests joining us. Our doors are always open to those on their own.”