Community minded residents, who gave up time and money on Thursday 1st February said it was 'well worth it just to see the look on the pensioners' faces' as they enjoyed a free lunch and afternoon's entertainment.

Customers from a Kingsbury pub, members of two residents' associations and Brent Housing Partnership, teamed up and worked together to make the event possible.

Thanks to their fundraising efforts, organisation and volunteering, pensioners - with a combined age of over 4000 years - enjoyed food, fun and festivities till the early evening.

Liz McDonagh, of McDonagh's Bar, Church Lane, Kingsbury, said: "Customers in my pub have been putting money in a kitty every week. We also have race nights, charity football matches and other events to raise money."

Generous customers of the Kingsbury pub raised £900 to fund the lavish three course lunch with a free bar, bingo session and entertainment for 54 pensioners who live on council estates in Kingsbury and Brentfield. And they're still collecting. Liz said: "We normally have a summer event as well."

Liz, a friend of the Groves residents' association, teamed up with the chair, Kathy Ellison, and the secretary of Brentfield residents' association, Karin Jaeger, to round up pensioners who live on their estates.

Kathy said: "We've got a real mix of older residents here and many of them don't get out much. For one of the pensioners it was his first trip outside of his home in six months while another had to get special permission from her GP as she is recovering from surgery. Many only make it out for the odd shopping trip.

"It gives us so much pleasure to see them socialising, chatting and having a laugh."

Staff at Brent Housing Partnership (BHP) organised a coach to collect some of the pensioners and drop them off at the event in Kingsbury Football Club. Kathy said: "Some of them are quite frail and need lots of support when they do go out."

Ninety year old Megan Butcher, of the Groves, Kingsbury, said: "It gets us all together, we get to know our neighbours and keeps us all connected." While Dorris Buttle, 95, who was presented with a huge bouquet of flowers to celebrate her birthday, said: "It's the atmosphere I love. You see people you don't normally get to meet and it's a lovely meal."

BHP managing director, Helen Evans, said: "Community spirit is certainly alive and well on Brent's estates - as this event shows.

"BHP supports many residents' groups across the borough so residents can enjoy lots of activities from days out to bingo nights. It's a great way for tenants and leaseholders to come together and get to know their neighbours."

BHP has a team of resident involvement officers who help tenants and leaseholders set up residents associations and community groups. BHP can also provide funding, training and meeting rooms so more of its residents from across the borough can get involved, meet their neighbours and have some fun.

Anyone who lives in a property managed by BHP and would like to join a residents group, or set up a new one, should call the resident involvement team on 020 8937 2579.