SCORES of Oxfordshire's oldest authors, poets and artists took to the stage and exhibited their work at the first Festival of Talent Show.

More than 100 pensioners from 17 homes for the elderly descended on the Kassam Stadium in Greater Leys, Oxford, for an all-day event designed to showcase their wide-ranging skills to family and friends.

The work included photography, watercolour paintings, sketches, needlework and ceramics - all of which had been completed by the pensioners at their Orders of St John Care Trust homes.

After looking at the work, the audience watched a talent show featuring the residents, which included poetry performances, gentle exercise routines and poetry recitals.

Amateur singers entertained the audience with performances of Danny Boy and When I'm 94 - an update on the Beatles classic When I'm 64.

Jeannie Pyle, a project manager for the charity trust, said: "We thought we would celebrate the talents and skills the residents have.

"Lots of them have talents we didn't even know about. I'm amazed at some of the artwork. They're tremendous."

Col Hugo Toye, 91, from Westgate House in Millington Road, Wallingford, exhibited his books including Subhash Chandra Bose: The Springing Tiger, for which he wrote a second edition at the age of 87, and Laos: Buffer State or Battleground.

He said: "The event is a good idea.

"It's been carried out very well."

Barbara Summerfield, 73, who lives in the Meadowcroft home in Towersey Road, Thame, exhibited her papier maché models.

She said: "I've enjoyed it a lot - they should have it every year.

"I'm proud of my work, I've got somewhere at last."

Ms Pyle added: "People tend to think those in care homes don't do anything, but in the Orders of St John Care Trust they do quite a lot.

"Our residents have been ice skating, taken up in a helicopter, gone out in police cars - and one of our 96-year-olds recently learned to swim."