A SUPERMARKET donation has brought early Christmas cheer to residents at a Royal Wootton Bassett care home.

Those living at Ridgeway House, The Lawns, will be going to watch Michelle Collins of EastEnders fame tread the boards in panto at the Wyvern Theatre.

Their visit has been made possible by Sainsbury’s, which gave the care home £300 to spend on its residents during the festive season.

Ridgeway House activities coordinator Emma Constables told the Adver: “It’s massively important to do these things as Christmas approaches.

“A lot of residents who have lost family feel quite lonely at these times. Even though they’re in a setting with friends, it’s still nice to meet new people and everyone loves a good panto.

“For patients who live with dementia they need things that are interactive and so this will work really well for them. It’s a good laugh and it gives them a good buzz.”

Michelle, who made her name as Cindy Beale in the BBC One soap, is starring alongside CBeebies favourite Chris Jarvis in Sleeping Beauty at the Wyvern.

Ridgeway resident Margaret Clark, 81, said: “It’s brilliant that we get to go because it’s a night out for us all.

“My daughter is coming with me so that will be lovely and she’s excited about getting the chance to go.

“I used to go watch pantomimes years ago when my children were small so this will be a nice, memorable thing.”

Sainsbury’s has helped the care home organise events as part of the superstore’s 150 Year Community Challenge, keeping patients busy and helping them to spend time with their family.

Jordan Riley is a manager at Sainsbury’s at the Borough Fields Shopping Centre.

He said: “We chose to do community group work with Ridgeway House and we came for a barbecue in the summer.

“We’ve done an afternoon tea with them and today we have donated the rest of our budget, which was £300.

“They’re spending that on a pantomime and it’s really important to help homes like this to be involved in the community.

“Everyone looks after everyone in Wootton Bassett, it’s a really close town.”

Sleeping Beauty opens at the Wyvern Theatre on December 7 and runs until January 5. Tickets are available from swindontheatres.co.uk