VOLUNTEERS whose work with elderly people was watched by millions of TV viewers are celebrating their first anniversary.

Slaithwaite Meals on Wheels, which was set up last Easter, is continuing to expand.

The village businesswomen – also known as the Colander Girls – starred in an episode of BBC show The Hairy Bikers last year.

Millions of viewers watched celebrity chefs Dave Myers and Si King help the volunteers set up a meals on wheels service for older people in Slaithwaite.

The group now delivers hot meals to 30 older people in the village every Wednesday.

In February the service expanded into Golcar.

And the volunteers have now launched a fish and chip run on Friday evenings, thanks to the Captain’s Table on Carr Lane.

The group has also published a book called Granny Splash and Walter Blue Wellies, which explains that older people can live active lives.

And Meals on Wheels will expand into Marsden soon with a monthly “meet and eat” get-together for older people in the village.

Volunteer Stephanie Bertenshaw said: “Slaithwaite Meals on Wheels has now got 30 needy recipients who get a hot meal each week, and we keep on growing.

“We have branched out to a new fish and chip run every Friday evening, and are beginning a new ‘meet and eat’ group once a month.

“We have also managed to raise over £3,000 so far from charity events and the sales of our Granny Splash and Walter Blue Wellies book.

“Even Waterstones in Huddersfield wanted to help and have began stocking the Granny Splash book in their store on New Street.”

Ms Bertenshaw said volunteers spend time with each older person when they deliver a hot meal each week.

“We are not your usual Meals on Wheels volunteer,” she said.

“We don’t just offer a nutritious meal. Every time we go and visit our elderly friends, we bring a sense of calm and enjoyment at the same time.

“We are entertainment as well as a kind listening ear, and as a group our happiness is contagious.

“You will often find that – if someone has lost their partner, or has been feeling down in some way – when we first begin to deliver their meal, soon enough they will begin to open up again and realise that there is much joy to be had in life yet.”

The group marked its one-year anniversary last Wednesday with a delivery in the snow.

“What better way to celebrate than with the worst weather we have had to deal with so far,” said Ms Bertenshaw.

“But we will take anything in our stride, so whilst many of the volunteers were snowed in, the remaining girls trenched through the horrible weather, managing to deliver each and every hot meal to its place on time.

“So we can clearly see that come rain, snow or shine, we will always find a way.”

Anyone who wants to volunteer can email meals_on_wheels@live.co.uk or visit the Facebook group Meals on Wheels Slaithwaite.