RESIDENTS in a Minehead home no longer have any excuse for their batteries going flat thanks to a new development.

A garage block has been officially opened at the Broadlands Residential Home, in Ponsford Road, to house the residents' seven or so battery cars.

The garage has been fitted out with charging units so the pensioners can literally drive in, plug in and charge up.

The block was officially opened during the home's open day and fete by Jonathan Henderson, son of the former chairman of the home's management committee James Henderson who left a legacy to the home.

Head of Broadlands, Wendy Hewlett, said staff were keen to use it to create a permanent yet practical memorial to him.

She said: "Mr Henderson was so very special to us and we wanted to do something to remember him, so the garage is known as Henderson and we were honoured to have his son travel down from London to open it for us."

She said the fete had also been a huge success, with croquet on the front lawn and plenty of stalls to browse around in the back garden.

Pictured outside the new garage block are, from the left, Joe Passmore, Monica Boucherat, Mrs Hewlett, Mr Henderson and Barry Pugh.

Photo: Steve Guscott.