TENANTS from supported accommodation units gathered at Cumnock Town Hall for the grand finale of East Ayrshire’s annual Come Dine with Me contest.

Teams from the units had planned, hosted and entertained tenants from other locations serving them a two-course meal.

Residents, volunteers and staff worked together on each meal and their dinner guests then scored the overall dining experience with a group from Drongan the eventual winners.

Each heat was filmed and screened at the final event in Cumnock, as more than 80 competitors from across East Ayrshire looked on with great interest.

The competition ended in a tie with Rowantree Court in Drongan and Garven Court in Kilmarnock taking joint first place after receiving the highest marks.

Rowantree Court’s team had served traditional roast beef, Yorkshire pudding, mashed potato and vegetables followed by lemon cheesecake.

Cooking up a storm but just narrowly missing the top spot were chefs from Afton Court in New Cumnock and Mauchline’s Ellisland Court.

Afton Court’s culinary masterpiece consisted of tapas with homemade bread, chicken paella and vegetable paella while Mauchline’s mouth-watering offering was braised steak, mashed potatoes and fresh garden peas, followed by marshmallow cheesecake.

Everyone enjoyed their day at the town hall, and were entertained with a holiday-themed quiz, a sing-song with vocalist/guitarist Matthew Corcoran and a performance by Burns Bairns.

Councillor Kathy Morrice, who attended the grand finale, said: “Last year Vibrant Communities and the council’s facilities management team organised a competition, called Come Dine Wae Me, as part our local Big lunch celebrations.

“It was a roaring success and we just had to run it again this year. Everyone involved thoroughly enjoyed the competition and the two winners will now be treated to a wonderful lunch made by Chris Walker from facilities management.

“Events like this are an excellent way to engage with older people as Many older people experience terrible loneliness and feel isolated. In East Ayrshire we are ensuring older people are keeping active, both physically and mentally, and most importantly are having fun in the process.”