Primary school pupils have been sending messages to their friends at a dementia care home to keep their spirits up.

Students at Craylands Lane Primary School in Swanscombe would regularly visit residents at Haslington Lodge in Greenhithe prior to the lockdown.

Meetings between the two became part of a regular routine in which the infants would take part in craft sessions, sing to residents, and help out around the care home.

They soon formed friendships as they learnt about one another and bridged the generational divide.

Since the lockdown the pupils have reached out to residents and staff at the home for patients with dementia with positive messages and pictures of rainbows.

Frances Maynard, registered care manager at Haslington Lodge says she was "touched" by the children's efforts to stay in touch.

She said: “We have always loved to see the generations coming together building friendships and bonds.

"Of course since the pandemic we are no longer able to carry on as normal in this way.

"This is why we are all so touched and happy to receive these sweet messages of positivity and love from the children.

"We are missing them and they us, for now all we can do is stay in touch and continue to support each other with our messages of positivity.”

Read more: All the latest news from Gravesend

Read more: All the latest news from Dartford