A GIANT unicorn joined the Grand National-themed fun at a Barnsley care home – when residents raced their own paper horses and enjoyed a flutter on the marquee racing event.

Residents and staff at Deangate Care Home, on Towngate, Mapplewell, had their own day at the races, which included a visit from an inflatable, pink horned unicorn.

The fancy dress costume was worn by the care home’s activities coordinator, Rachael Addy, to surprise residents on race day.

“In the spirit of the occasion I decided to get dressed up,” Rachael said.

“There wasn’t any horse outfits left, so I chose the closest one which was a unicorn.

“As you can imagine, the residents thought it was hilarious.”

Residents also took part in their own races, when they blew paper horses down a table-top racetrack with straws and a hairdryer, with large printouts of the Aintree crowds cheering them on from the grandstands.