THE relationship between young and old in Thurrock has been crystalised by youngsters from a local nursery and older people's housing complex in Stifford Clays, which has managed to transcend every obstacle Covid-19 could put in front of it.

Two Little Birds Pre-school is based in Chestnut Avenue in in Grays and has been building a relationship with the residents of Elizabeth Gardens.

Last year the pre-school unit was able to arrange a harvest festival and to perform a nativity for residents of the complex at Christmas but, because of coronavirus this year the lines of communication have been made very difficult.

Plans for a joint Easter event went by the wayside and then it was hoped a harvest festival event could happen in the autumn. Sadly it didn't happen.

A spokesperson for the pre-school takes up the story: "We hoped we might get up for harvest festival to sing some of our autumn songs but that was not allowed so we asked for donations from parents and made up hampers and food parcels which we delivered and staff there arranged the distribution of these.

"We were hopeful to be able to arrange an outdoor carol concert for Christmas and again these plans were postponed due to Covid.

"Once again our parents and staff pulled together and we organised a Christmas gift collection. Donations were wrapped and labelled male or female and these gifts were delivered to the front door by two special little helpers."