Elderly couple outto show they are the dancing queens

Dorothy Tucker and Betty Figgins perform as Abba with care home workers Emily Rose and Karen Moore

They have a combined age of 170, but Belmont Castle Care Home residents Dorothy Tucker, 84, and Betty Figgins, 86, prove to be young at heart in their energetic entry for Care Home Idol.

Care Home Idol is an annual competition run by Care Home UK, which is designed to showcase the talent and vibrancy that exists in care homes and challenge people’s preconceptions of residential care.

In Belmont Castle’s video entry, Dorothy and Betty, dressed in Seventies style costume, can be seen singing and dancing to a medley of ABBA hits alongside staff members Karen Moore and Emily Rose.

Both of the women live with Alzheimer’s and staff have said dance and music makes a ‘world of difference’ to sufferers of dementia.

Karen Moore, 54, said: ‘We always do a lot of singing and dancing with the residents, and it really helps the ones suffering with dementia.

‘It’s amazing how music and dance helps the residents. Some of them are unable to remember things and can hardly speak, but as soon as you put the music on they join in and know all of the words.

‘We regularly put on shows for the residents’ family and friends and music therapy makes a world of difference to them, so we decided it would be great to enter the competition and showcase this.

‘We held our annual garden party recently and did the ABBA tribute, filmed it and entered it for the competition.

‘Dorothy and Betty were really enthusiastic about taking part and they loved dressing up. Dorothy came to us from a different care home and her family have told us that she’s really come out her shell since she’s joined us.’

Winners of Care Home Idol will be announced in February 2017 and will receive a trophy and a cash prize.

The number of Likes and views will be taken into account, but the final decision is made by a judge.

Emily Rose, 22, said: ‘The performance went really well, it was great fun and lovely to have them up there performing with us.

‘I hope people vote for us to highlight how music and dance can make a positive difference to the residents.’

Readers of The News can help Belmont Castle Care Home win Care Idol 2016. Watch the video and like it here.