A LUNCHEON group that was set up less than a year ago is preparing for the party of the year.

Brotton Luncheon Club, in east Cleveland, opened last year thanks to money from the National Lottery and the community dividend fund of the North-Eastern and Cumbrian Co-op.

Now, more than 40 senior citizens of the village regularly have lunch and a social gathering on a Friday and organisers are astounded by its success.

The club is gearing up for a lunch to celebrate the Queen's Golden Jubilee on Friday, May 31, when it is expecting to serve more than 70 people.

Margaret Whitehead, chairman of the luncheon club committee, said: "We have had money from all sorts of people and the club is absolutely wonderful.

"Everything will be on a jubilee theme, including the menu and the decorations and we hope to have a cake cut by our two eldest members, which is something when some of the kitchen staff are 80 years old."

Lunch will be served from noon. All are welcome.