PRIMARY school children in Bolton have been making deliveries to elderly residents in the community who are feeling lonely during lockdown.

Year five and six pupils at St William of York Primary school in Great Lever created bags full of activities to surprise older people who are in need of things to keep them occupied amid ongoing restrictions.

They made and decorated cards and sent messages of love, support and inspiration to those they felt may be feeling lonely and isolated at this time.

The local parish priest supplied the school with a list of locals who might be feeling particularly vulnerable.

The schools headteacher, Clare Lightbown, said: "We spoke a lot with our pupils about lockdown, and many of them were concerned about the effects of lockdown on older people in the community.

"They are a thoughtful bunch and wanted to do something to help."

The children hand delivered bags full of jigsaw puzzles, crosswords, games and magazines - things to help pass the time during the long, winter days.

Originally, the pupils were only going to deliver cards with thoughtful messages but thanks to the help of a local community group, funding was given to help supply activities to keep older residents occupied during lockdown.

Crown Green Zone Community Group, a project funded partly by the National Lottery, supplied funds to help make up the activity packs.

Eight deliveries were made in person by the pupils to residents living near the school, while a further 20 were made by volunteers from the Crown Green Zone Community Group.

The group was set up to support children, families and older members of the community across Bolton.

Following the success of the first delivery, the youngsters are now busy making more packs - this time with plants, seeds and bird feeders to help people enjoy the outdoors in the Spring.

These will be delivered tomorrow, February 26.

Mrs Lightbown said: "Delivering the parcels was a joy and I don't know who was smiling more - the recipients or the children.

"The children really felt like they had done something good."