Teenagers have been helping to bring happiness to senior citizens.

As part of their community outreach programme, pupils from the Oasis Academy Isle of Sheppey's two sites in Sheerness and Minster took on the role of Santa to deliver more than 300 presents to pensioners.

They dropped off gifts to Age UK Sheppey along with care homes including Blackburn Lodge in Sheerness and Oakdene and Barton Court in Minster.

They also visited three homes in Sittingbourne: Court Regis, Hengist Field and Woodstock residential care centre.

Stephanie Kitching, of Woodstock residential care centre, said: "The residents all said how lovely and polite the children were and how they all enjoyed chatting to them.

"The beautiful presents will be shared out among our residents on Christmas Day. I am sure they will be really appreciated as sadly not everyone receives gifts on the day.”

Paul Murray, the academy's community leader, said: "We are most grateful for the support we have received from the local councils, without which we would not be able to fund this student community gift-giving scheme.”

The pupils also ran a Christmas dementia cafe as part of their awareness and support programme.

More than 120 guests, including the Mayor of Swale Cllr Simon Clark, were invited to the Minster campus in Minster Road where they were catered for by the academy and Paul’s wife Margaret.

Pupils also joined the Salvation Army to sing carols.

Mr Murray added: "The academy has done this for the past 10 years. We don't charge for any of the work we do but some people choose to make donations, which we are happy to receive."