LOVE was in the air at a Greenock care home as residents and their spouses tucked into a special Valentine’s meal.

Staff at Larkfield Care Home pulled out all the stops to make the party perfect by sending out invitations to the residents' other halves.

They helped get the residents ready, prepared a menu and also purchased waitress outfits.

Couples were seated in a transformed lounge room which had been decorated by staff with heart lights in bottles.

There were drinks cooling in ice buckets and chocolate heart sweet treats.

This is the second time the care home has run the event for Valentine’s Day and manager Elsie Maclennan says the success of it is down to her 'wonderful' staff.

Elsie said: “We held this last year for the first time and it has already become one of my favourites.

“The staff worked so hard to make it special.

"They have been planning it for weeks.

"It is just a lovely moment seeing the couples enjoy Valentine’s Day together.

“The staff look forward to it as much as the residents, who count down until the day.

"The room was beautiful, the couples were happy and the interaction was lovely to see.”

Activity co-ordinators Linda Daisley, Rebecca Outen and Sharon Kelly organised the whole event.

Rebecca and Sharon even dressed as waitresses to serve the couples and ensure their glasses of Prosecco were topped up.

Cook Ashley Stewart was on hand to make sure everyone enjoyed their meal and business administrator Francis Rice and Josie Gallacher attended to make sure everything ran smoothly.

The couples enjoyed pate with oat cakes to start, followed by soup and a choice between chicken or steak and sausage pie, before enjoying a dessert of fresh strawberries and cream on a meringue nest.

Tea and coffee were served afterwards as everyone enjoyed a chat.

Elsie said: “Not only was it a chance for the couples to spend time together but also for the residents to socialise with residents from elsewhere in the care home.

“It was a great atmosphere and everyone seemed to enjoy it.

"The staff are amazing, they are always thinking outside the box for events that will benefit the residents and this one was lovely, so I can’t thank them enough for their efforts.”