Prime Minister and MP for Richmond (Yorks) Rishi Sunak has helped a Northallerton care home prepare for Christmas.

Sunak chatted with residents and staff and helped hand out cream cakes and tea during his visit to Hill Care’s Beechwood Care Home in Romanby Road.

The PM said: “It was a great pleasure to be involved helping to get Christmas underway at Beechwood. The home has a special, caring, atmosphere and the staff do an excellent job supporting residents.”

Sunak wrote a festive message to residents and placed it in a bauble before hanging it on one of the care home’s Christmas trees.

Residents and staff presented the PM with a Bettys of Harrogate gift box containing sweets, treats and a tin of premium tea. The gift box also contained a watercolour painting of a Christmas tree by resident Maureen Brooks, 87, a lifelong artist.

Joanne Porter, activities coordinator at Beechwood Care Home, said: “It was such an honour to have the PM visit Beechwood.

“The team were thrilled to meet him. Our staff members from overseas were especially impressed as the PM took time to chat to them.

“The PM was very patient and kind with Juliet as he helped her to put her chosen bauble on the tree. It was also great to see him getting involved in handing out cream cakes and cups of tea.”