IT has been the ultimate beach and barbecue summer, but one Falmouth family tucked into a Christmas dinner with all the trimmings on Sunday.

Carole Clark laid on the festive food because her elderly mother Evelyn, who suffers from dementia, always mentions it when she pays a visit to her care home.

“Whenever we see mum she asks if we’re ready for Christmas and that the shops will be selling out. So we decided to bring it forward a few months so that she can enjoy it,” said Carole.

“We told her that it would be Christmas Day on Sunday and she was really excited, but now she’s asking what our plans are for New Year!” she added.

After her appeal on social media for Christmas-themed props, the local community has rallied behind Carole.

Tanya’s Courage Trust charity shop in Penryn even lent her a snow machine, with several others coming forward offering to bring some seasonal sparkle to her home with a variety of decorations.

Carole’s eldest son Jack came home from Bath University for the day and younger son Harry, who has just finished studying at Falmouth Marine School, and daughter Sarah, were also there for the big day.

“Mum has had vascular dementia for three years now and although she continued to live on her own, last year she broke her wrist and we knew that she needed to be looked after,” added Carole.

Evelyn, who will turn 83 at the end of August, is a resident at Langholme Care Home in Arwenack Avenue.

“She used to be a warden in accommodation for the elderly, so she still goes around trying to wipe people’s noses in the home. The staff are fantastic with her, but I did tell them to expect mum to have some tinsel in her hair when he returned on Sunday evening.

“Hopefully she’ll still be with us for another Christmas in December, but obviously we won’t know what her state of mind will be. At the moment she still recognises us all, so we brought Christmas to her.”

They had decorations, a chicken dinner, crackers, paper hats, pop-up tree, fairy lights and background music was provided by one of Evelyn’s favourites, Rod Stewart.

The family also bought her some presents, including an interactive dog.

“Someone in the home had one and mum really liked it. She’d love to have her dog back again. The interactive dog doesn’t chew the furniture and is house trained, so I’m sure she’ll enjoy it,” said Carole.