RESIDENTS at a Ryedale elderly people's home have thanked a mystery donor who left a box of luxury goodies on its doorstep.

The big-hearted benefactor left the gifts at the Alba Rose Residential Home, in Pickering, during Christmas week.

The package contained goodies like truffles, luxury Italian biscuits and rich buttery shortbread, which the residents have shared out between themselves.

Anne Marflitt is activities manager at the small family-run home, where 18 elderly people live.

"The residents just wanted to say thank-you," said Anne, who has worked at the Middleton Road residential home for 18 months.

"This is the first time something like this has happened since I've been here. In fact, it's the first time it's happened in the 25 years the home has been open.

"It's a lovely gesture. Someone will read this and know it's them. We'd just like to say a big thank-you to them."

She said 87-year-old resident Elsie Gibbs had come to Anne especially to ask her to publicly thank the mystery benefactor.

"She said: Can you get something in The Press?'," Anne said. "She did it off her own back."

Anne co-ordinates trips out for the residents, as well as organising activities within the home.

"I take them out to theatre and that kind of thing. We try to make it resident-led," she said.

"We do craft fairs and get people in to do talks."

The charitable gift marks a role reversal for the home, which holds three fundraising fairs a year in aid of local charities.

Last year, it raised almost £2,000 for Marie Curie Cancer Care, Macmillian Cancer Support, St Catherine's Hospice in Scarborough, Hearing Dogs for the Deaf and Guide Dogs for the Blind.

Alba Rose was in the news just before Christmas as resident Dora Lowe, of Pickering, celebrated her 105th birthday.

Mrs Lowe, a resident for the past three years, is an avid reader of romantic novels and shuns television in favour of books.

Her niece, Connie Glensor, said she was the oldest member of North Yorkshire County Council's library service.

The home's residents, with Mrs Glensor and her husband, Donald, marked Mrs Lowe's birthday with a celebratory tea party at the home.