CHILDREN from a school near Cockermouth rallied round when they heard that one of their team was missing them all.

The Paddle School pupils drew lots of pictures, wrote letters and dropped off flowers and homemade bread at Chris Shaw’s home.

Mrs Shaw, a regular volunteer at the school, was delighted. She wrote the pupils a story, in the style of a fairytale, all about a “very old lady who lived by herself” and how grateful she was for all the support.

The retired teacher normally spent three mornings a week at the school, listening to youngsters read. When lockdown was announced she had to stay in her Eaglesfield home and, while she was supported by her local family and many neighbours, she missed school life. She wrote to the school and her letter was posted on the school’s remote learning platform.

Headteacher Dawn Watson was delighted with how the pupils responded.

“It really cheered Mrs Shaw up and I thought was a great act of kindness for the children to respond and take the time to write to this very valued member of the Paddle Family,” she said.