TWO visitors to Avalon Care Home in Bridgwater brought "unbridled joy" when they trotted in this week.

Shetland ponies Delilah and Lightning paid a visit to the care home to meet the residents for a special animal therapy afternoon.

The horses were brought into the home by Ros Dark, whose 78-year-old father Michael is a retired farmer, and his granddaughter Pippa.

Avalon’s activities coordinator Lisa Priddice said: "We wanted our residents, especially those from a farming background, to have an experience which was personal and relatable to them.

"Residents were engaged and delighted by these beautiful ponies, asking questions, getting involved, and enjoying the experience of stroking a horse."

She added: “One of our ladies, who is limited verbally, kept making horse sounds as if she was trying to communicate with them which is so heartwarming. There was so much energy that day – smiles, laughter.

"The ponies were so well-behaved; we even took them into the lounges and rooms to give everyone the chance to see and touch them.”

The visit by five year-old Delilah and eighteen-year-old miniature Shetland Lightning was part of the home’s Farm Month which included a farm visit and food-tasting day.

Avalon is one of four specialist dementia care homes which is run by Camelot Care in Somerset and Devon. More details can be found at www.camelotcare.co.uk.