YOUNGSTERS from a Worcester amateur dramatic society took some surprise festive cheer to people in a care home when they performed an impromptu cabaret.

The group, aged 13 to 18, belongs to Worcester Operatic and Dramatic Society Youth Section (WODYS) which each year produces a winter cabaret to take on the road.

When the youngsters learned that one of WODYS’ long-term voluntary helpers, John Abbs, had been taken ill and would spend Christmas at an intermediate care unit the children used Facebook to contact each other and organise a surprise cabaret for him and residents of the adjoining Topaz unit at the Shaw care home and intermediate care centre in London Road, Worcester.

After a performance featuring songs from Broadway hit musicals including Mack the Knife and Beyond the Sea, Mr Abbs said: “These youngsters are the best there are and I am so proud to be a small part of WODYS.

“They made Christmas for me and for many of the other people who are in here and away from their families at this time. Thank you so much, all of you.”

Paul Robinson, husband of Helen, who has produced this year’s WODYS’ cabaret said: “For some people Christmas is about getting drunk, for others it is about how many gifts they will get. Some will shop until they drop.

“But for the WODYS cabaret guys, it’s all about giving up their time to make someone happy.”