THE UNSUNG efforts of carers were celebrated at an event in Dorchester.

The Trinity Club in the county town hosted an afternoon tea dance for local carers.

The event was organised by Dorset Healthcare’s community mental health team for older people to mark carers week and attracted around 90 people.

They were treated to cream teas and organ music with people able to enjoy sequence dancing, line dancing and ballroom dancing.

Team leader for the community mental health team for older people Liz Rose said the event was a great success and the response to it had been extremely positive.

She said: “It was brilliant and the feedback has been very positive.

“We had nearly 90 people there in the end.

“It was very positive and several people have said they would like it as a regular event and we certainly hope it will be.”

Liz said that because the event was the first of its kind she was unsure how many people would turn out but said she was delighted with the turn out and hoped something could be done to offer similar events in the future.

She said: “Clearly it is something people are wanting.”

Liz said it was nice to celebrate the unsung work done by so many carers and the occasion attracted lots of people from local care homes who really enjoyed the event.

She said some comments from those attending the event included someone saying it was the first time they had seen their wife dance in years.

Dorset Healthcare teamed up with a number of local organisations to put on the event.

They included the Dorchester Day Centre, Age UK and SAIL (Safe and Independent Living).

Liz also thanked the Trinity Club for hosting the event and local businesses that donated prizes for a raffle on the day.

She said: “Our thanks go to them and also to our partners for helping to organise the date, especially as music and dance can play such a significant part in improving our health and wellbeing.”