An emerging event to bring generations together over tea and coffee started in Maidstone last week.

On Friday The Maplesden Noakes School became only the second school in Kent to start a dementia cafe.

Pupils chatted with the elderly over cakes baked at the school, while performing arts students played songs in the background.

Head of health and social care Phillipa Jaffray said: "One lady was in tears.

"The pupils played a song she remembered she used to dance and sing to when she was young.

"Another lady, who has quite severe dementia, got up and danced. Her husband was so happy.

"He told me 'I just want to get out of the house and have somewhere I can go with my wife'. He asked me when the next cafe would be."

The Buckland Road secondary welcomed around 40 elderly residents and their carers from care homes including from Barty House in Roundwell, Bearsted and Betsy Clara Nursing Home in Courtenay Road, Maidstone.

Oasis Academy on the Isle of Sheppey is the only other school in the county to run a dementia cafe, but the event looks to be gaining popularity.

Mrs Jaffray said: "The headteacher (Richard Owen) believes the school should be playing a big role in our community and I agree.

"The whole day went really well, all of my Year 10 pupils did so well and everyone really enjoyed themselves.

"There were visitors from The North School in Ashford. They're looking at set up a cafe and wanted to see how we ran ours."

The event was set up with the help of Heart of Kent Hospice and Wrinkly Roadshow, which gives support and advice for elderly care in the county.

Heart of Kent Hospice holds monthly dementia cafes at its base in Preston Hall, Aylesford.

Mrs Jaffray said: "The hospice was amazing. A few of my students went to its cafe to see how it runs and get advice. They were a big help.

"Now we've run our cafe once, the students will be a lot more confident when we do it next time."

The school hopes to run another dementia cafe before the end of the school year in July.