RESIDENTS of a new care home were visited by a couple of special guests today (Thursday) as well as Father Christmas.
A pair of South American Humboldt penguins, based at Heythrop Zooligical Gardens in Oxfordshire, waddled around the Avonbourne Care Centre in Old Sarum, to the thrill of some guests, and mystification of others.
The visit was the brainchild of the centre's manager, Esther Thomas.
She said: "I had arranged for reindeer to visit the last home I worked at in Melksham, so I decided to do the same when I came here, but with penguins."
Children from Old Sarum nursery joined their elderly neighbours at the home, and looked on in awe as the flightless birds waddled around.
The centre, owned and managed by the Orders of St John Care Trust, was opened in April 2016, and although Thursday's visit was the first of its kind, it will be followed by that of a reindeer on December 23.
The children from the nursery will once again visit the home, with one child's wish set to be fulfilled, after she asked Santa: "You've brought the small penguins, but where are the big penguins and the reindeers?"
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