A WIRRAL care home's upgrade has been been given an £18,000 boost from staff at Cammell Laird.

The Birkenhead marine and engineering services company has pledged the money to Meadowcroft respite home in Spital Road, Bromborough, run by the charity Age UK Wirral.

The firm has also donated a specialist washing machine worth £6,000 to the centre, which offers day care, overnight and weekend support to the over-50s including those with dementia.

Its chief executive John Syvret CBE said donations, along with other gifts helped Age UK apply for a £50,000 grant which doubled its refurbishment budget to £98,000.

Mr Syvret said: "Meadowcroft provides a fantastic service to the community and we are delighted to help.

"Its support includes respite care for people with dementia, which also gives their carers much-need breaks, along with a range of social, health and educational activities for older folk in the area.

"The funding has paid for building work including the redesign and refurbishment of bedrooms, and the creation of a bespoke active age wing.

"The charity is also creating a ‘community wellbeing hub’ primarily for people over-50, and is bringing together a range of activities and support under one roof."

Age UK Wirral bought Meadowcroft in 2012 from Wirral Borough Council.

With the £18,000 pledged by Cammell Laird and other donations totalling £30,000, it was able to successfully apply for an extra £50,000 in match-funding from the Wolfson Foundation, a charity that awards grants to good causes.

Myrtle Lacey, chief executive of Age UK Wirral, said: "Cammell Laird's support has been fundamental to this project.

"John Syvret and his team at Cammell Laird have shown great interest in our work and have visited Meadowcroft a number of times.

"Initially eight bedrooms across the first and second wings at Meadowcroft were redecorated, furnished and equipped.

"We continued running our respite service using first wing bedrooms while the whole second wing was redeveloped.

"Further, by moving the laundry elsewhere we have created an extra bedroom, making a total of 13, which is great.

"We have also been offered practical support by Cammell Laird to improve the home’s exterior and courtyard. Again, we are very grateful for this."

The Meadowcroft redevelopment plan includes a community drop-in lounge with wi-fi facilities, a computer suite, expanded social, educational, health, leisure and physical activity classes, therapies, a laundry service, daytime snacks and packed teas for elderly people to take home.

The site could also host hearing tests and hearing aid clinics, facilities for visiting health and social care services, and meeting and activity rooms for hire.

Age UK Wirral also hopes to develop a sensory garden in the central courtyard and build raised garden beds.