Shropshire silver surfers get festive message across with super selfies

And for these residents of a Shropshire care home that means getting to grips with the art of the mobile phone selfie.

They are proving that age is no barrier when it comes to having fun – and sending an uplifting festive message along the way.

If it's good enough for Barack and Dave, it's good enough for the elderly residents of a Shropshire care home.

That seems to be the message after a group of pensioners at The Uplands at Oxon Nursing Home, in Shrewsbury, got in on the act of the "selfie".

Their festive messages are being delivered by mobile – with a smiling selfie the centrepiece.

The silver surfers have proved adept at mastering the digital age and have delivered messages of goodwill via MMS.

Selfies have swept the world in recent times with the British and American leaders both taking mobile phone photographs of themselves at public events.

So good on the Oxon residents for giving it a go, given that the mobile phone, digital photography and the internet weren't around when they were young.

Of course it won't be familiar territory for them, but it's nice to see them embrace the technology and have some festive fun.

A number of residents at the Uplands at Oxon nursing home in Shrewsbury, have tapped into the digital age.

And they have embraced today's teen spirit by snapping jolly pictures of themselves and a heartfelt Christmas message.

The selfie has become a worldwide sensation in recent years.

It involves a picture somebody has taken of themselves with a smart phone or webcam and shared via social media.

The phenomenon has even been taken on by world leaders, including Barack Obama who got into trouble with Michelle for taking a selfie at Nelson Mandela's memorial service.

For residents of the Shrewsbury nursing home, it is a chance to spread the Christmas message and learn a few new tricks from younger staff.

The selfies were the brainchild of the Uplands' activities co-ordinator Laura Locke, who helped the residents with the pictures and also the messages they wanted posted.

Laura armed the residents with an iPad to take the snaps, which will grace the pages of the Christmas edition of the home's newsletter.

"The residents involved really enjoyed themselves," said Laura.

"Having fun with selfies doesn't have to be the preserve of the young - we have many residents here who are young at heart and loved the opportunity to join the digital age.

"Some of them have limited movement in their arms so had to be helped by carers but they all got in the Christmas spirit and were more than happy to dress up in festive gear.

"It also gave them the opportunity to be associated with a message which meant a lot to them.

"We all had a lot of fun and the residents have really embraced the selfie - I'm sure they can now show their grandchildren and great grandchildren a thing or two."