An ice cream van has been surprising children who have been 'Little Heroes' throughout the pandemic with free desserts.

Lotties Lollies, a dessert company which delivers around Maidstone, launched the initiative last month as a way of rewarding children who have adapted and stayed strong through the difficult year.

Charlotte Watson from Tovil said she has seen first hand through her four-year-old daughter Amara just how resilient little ones have been and wanted to give them some recognition.

After receiving hundreds of nominations across the borough, Miss Watson, who started the business in August, picked the winners at random and made the deliveries on March 6.

Lilly Watley who goes to Yalding Primary School was one of the well deserving little heroes.

The five-year-old was nominated by her mum Lynsey Watley, 41, for being so brave through lockdown and starting a brand new school in the middle of it all.

Mrs Watley said: "Lilly has coped amazingly, and she changed schools without any worry at all.

"She really is a little trooper and has taken on everything unfazed.

"She was so excited to get her ice cream. She was leaping around the front room and she keeps asking if she is still my little hero.

"It's only when campaigns like this happen you realise how strange the pandemic has been for children and how well they have done."

Siblings Selby and Wren Smith from Boughton Monchelsea were nominated by their mother Samantha Smith.

Selby, who’s nine, also changed schools just after Christmas and has worked so hard through the transition and has taken the changes in his stride.

His little sister Wren has also shown incredible bravery by chopping off her waist length hair for the Little Princess Trust.

The seven-year-old managed to raise £1,000 and is hoping to grow her hair and do it all again in the future.

Archie, Humphrey and Pip Hamilton-Barnes from Allington were also delighted to get their desserts after being nominated by a neighbour.

The siblings have been through more than their fair share of heartbreak after their father, Robin Barnes, 50, passed away last month after contracting Covid-19.

Their mother, Emma Hamilton-Barnes says despite the devastating loss, her boys have remained so strong and are still thinking of others.

Along with Humprhey's team mates at K-Sports Colts under 10s in Ditton, the brothers are taking on a virtual stadium tour visiting the grounds of their favourite football teams to raise money for Unicef, a charity they previously supported with their father.

The team has travelled 1,200 miles out of 2,251 miles so far.

Mrs Hamilton-Barnes, 45, said: "They're all different ages so it has affected them in different ways but they just keep getting on with life and they have been so strong.

"Humphrey chose Unicef because he has been raising money for them three years in a row and Robin was so proud of him for that."

They have raised £1,420 so far.

Over in Leeds, brothers Tom and Zak Hammond enjoyed their sweet treat after being nominated for their resilience over the past year.

Zak, six, who goes to Kingswood Primary School, was diagnosed with cancer in his liver in 2017 and has spent the latest lockdown recovering from a liver transplant.

Not only has Zak remained in high spirits despite his gruelling treatment, his older brothers Tom, eight, and Harry, 18, have supported him by shielding since February last year.

Their mother, Caroline Sharp, said: "It was a lovely surprise for Zak as he had just got back from a few days at Kings College Hospital that morning."

The Little Heroes campaign has been such a success, Miss Watson has decided to carry it on until the Easter holidays.

Four children nominated for the prize will be picked at random each week.

Miss Watson said: “The deliveries went so well, it was very emotional and heart-warming and the children were just fantastic.

"We want to thank the whole community for coming together with us to celebrate these little heroes.

"Some have been through more than most and we felt so honoured to be able to bring a smile to their faces and meet these inspiring heroes."

To donate to K-Sports Colts fundraiser, click here.

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