Primary school pupils put together gift boxes including chocolates, biscuits and toiletries to make Christmas a bit more special for elderly residents.

Youngsters at SS Peter and Paul’s Catholic Primary School in Gordon Road, Ilford, made around 150 parcels and passed them over to safer neighbourhood police officers last week.

The members of the Chadwell Heath Safer Neighbourhood Team will then distribute them to elderly residents, including at the Woodlands Nursing Home in Gordon Road.

It had helped the children to learn about community service, said headteacher Gloria Newby.