For the first time in its 26 year history, visitors to Accrington’s Springhill Care Home received an unusually frosty greeting from staff this week.

But there were no complaints!  The chilly reception came from a six foot snowman nicknamed Frosty who had been created to cheer up residents in this week’s icy cold snap.

One resident – Craig Howarth (49) - even joined Matron Cathy Dunn and her health care team in building the dapper chap who was given a red plastic skittle for a nose from the home’s activities box in lieu of a carrot - which were off the menu that day. A hat from another resident’s summer collection topped off the look and his scarf was tinsel taken from the Christmas tree.

Cathy, pictured on the left of the photograph, said: “It all started as a bit of fun to entertain the residents and it went down a treat. Their noses were literally pressed up to the dining room window to watch us build Frosty. Unlike us, they could enjoy all the fun of the heavy snowfall without getting remotely cold or wet!”

Residents have become so attached to Frosty, they have even asked Cathy to print off photographs of him so they  have a lasting memory.

For the craftier ones, he could even provide a jolly scene for next year’s homemade Christmas cards!

Pictured L to R are Cathy Dunn, Amanda Green, Frosty, Ruslana Lazirko and Oksana Odnorih.