STAFF and residents at a Poole care home have channelled their 'powers' from a classic children's book to spread joy online.

Like care homes across the country, Alexandra House in Alexandra Road, Parkstone, has been unable to allow friends and family to visit residents during the coronavirus lockdown.

After watching the film Matilda, which is based on the Roald Dahl children's book, they set to work creating a video for the Care South Facebook page, with the aim of helping people smile during the current tough times.

Mimicking the telekinetic powers of the film’s child title character, the residents ‘showed off their powers’ by causing mayhem with items around the residential and dementia care home.

Emma Cotton, Alexandra House home manager, said: “Our amazing staff at the care home have been working tirelessly during the lockdown to keep everyone’s spirits up. After the residents watched the film, we thought it would be a great idea to create these video and spread some joy.

“Unfortunately, our special effects budget was not as big as that of the film studio’s, but everyone involved had fun nonetheless, which is the most important thing.”

Following the great feedback to the video on Facebook, staff at the care home then put themselves in front of the camera, heading out into the garden to recreate a popular dance from the social media app TikTok.

Emma added: “The residents were sat in the garden enjoying the sunshine and cheering us on. Everyone was laughing and it really helped to brighten up the day during these tough times.”

Alexandra House is managed by Poole-based not-for-profit charity Care South, which provides residential, dementia, nursing and in-home care across the south of England.

Like staff at other Care South homes, the Alexandra House team has been finding new ways to keep residents connected with loved ones while visits are restricted.

The home, which borders Alexandra Park, was rated ‘Good’ in all areas following its most recent CQC inspection.