PUPILS at an infant and nursery school have worked together and created wings of kindness to spread joy throughout the community and to help people feel connected.

The youngsters, at Cockton Hill Infant and Nursery School in Bishop Auckland, showed off their artistic skills when crafting colourful feathers with thoughtful messages written on each.

The feathers, made from coloured paper and craft materials, have been combined and organised to look like a pair of wings, which the school has named their 'Wings of Kindness.'

Tom Cuthbertson, headteacher at the school, said: "Kindness is one of our key values that we encourage in school, and our children participate in lots of activities around being kind.

"We wanted to do something to bring the children together during lockdown that both encouraged kindness and gave something back to the community.

The Northern Echo: From left, Year 2 pupils, Kaiden Crooks, Amelia Fitzgerald, Thomas Brownson, Jordana Beale, Liam Kirby and Maggie Metcalf with the Wings of Kindness at Cockton Hill Infants School in Bishop Auckland. Picture: STUART BOULTONFrom left, Year 2 pupils, Kaiden Crooks, Amelia Fitzgerald, Thomas Brownson, Jordana Beale, Liam Kirby and Maggie Metcalf with the Wings of Kindness at Cockton Hill Infants School in Bishop Auckland. Picture: STUART BOULTON

"So, we decided that each child would decorate a paper feather and then on the back of that they were to write some kind words or phrases.

"We then collected all of these feathers and our very talented Deputy Headteacher Mrs Harnaman organised them into one large piece of art depicting a pair of wings."

In the coming weeks, the school plans to create postcards out of photographs of the wings, and the children will then write some kind words on each.

The postcards will be sent out to neighbours, the elderly, and lockdown heroes in the area to promote positivity and togetherness.

The headteacher added: "The children have really enjoyed the project and it has resulted in lots of conversations about being kind to one another. We could not be prouder of our children and their work on this project."

A neighbourhood grant from the Bishop Auckland and Shildon AAP provided funding for the project.

To find out more about the school, visit cocktonhill-inf.durham.sch.uk/