MEMBERS of an Andover charity group came together to celebrate a landmark birthday.

People young and old from the town’s Mencap branch were joined at the Guildhall by the Mayor of Test Valley Jan Lovell and Deputy County Lieutenant Mark Maclay to mark their golden anniversary.

The celebratory evening featured a prize raffle and an art exhibition featuring the work of people from across the region.

Andover Mencap founder Liz Hall MBE said: “It was a lovely occasion, meeting old friends and some of our members and their relatives.

“It’s amazing to realise that 50 years ago we only had about 14 members and nowhere to meet and no schools for them and little else.

“But from little acorns do mighty oak trees grow. Now we have a membership of 150 plus children under 18 and 300 adults, and of course their families.”