A group of specially invited holidaymakers have been enjoying sun, sea and sand this week during an annual break organised by the Norfolk Broads Lions club.

More than 200 people from across the country, including a 99-year-old former Norfolk resident, were whisked to the Seacroft Holiday Village in Hemsby for the club's summer holiday.

For the past 43 years members have been organising the week-long trip for those in need, such as the elderly and disabled, and this year's event also included a special dedication to the man who founded the annual breaks.

Yesterday (Monday) all the invited holidaymakers, who are nominated and sponsored to go on the trip by their local Lions clubs, gathered by the ornamental pool at Seacroft to unveil a commemorative garden bench in memory of Ray Jeffery.

The Lions life member, who died last November, brought joy to hundreds of people after running and organising the holidays for 42 years.

David Doe, who has now taken up the post of holiday chairman, said: 'It was a special day. Ray did a lot for the club. He's dearly missed but we can now continue the holidays in his name.'

Among the guests who gathered as the bench was unveiled was 99 year old Grace Wasik, a former Thetford resident who now lives in sheltered accommodation in Hertfordshire.

Grace, who will turn 100 in two weeks time, has been coming on the holidays for three years and is already looking forward to next year's break.