PEOPLE of all ages had the chance to admire and pet a selection of animals at a fun day organised by a Basingstoke care home.

Residents, their families and carers at Marnel Lodge Care Home, in Carter Drive, Popley, met a range of animals last Friday when Miller’s Ark Animals, which is based in Hook, paid a visit to the home.

Around 35 people got up close and personal with a variety of animals which included a donkey, pigs, geese, rabbits, guinea pigs, goats and sheep as part of the “Day of Families”.

The special day of events was held by Barchester Healthcare – the company which runs Marnel Lodge.

Ann Hadley, activities co-ordinator at Marnel Lodge Care Home, told The Gazette the event was a huge success.

She added: “It went very well and we were very lucky with the weather as the day before it poured down.

“We took rabbits into the people who are bed-bound so they could get involved.

“Everyone else came out and it was a wonderful site. It is also good for people in our “Memory Lane” unit with dementia.

“It calms them down and it takes them back to when they were small and able to stroke the animals – especially when the donkeys came in.”