A set of drawers has been placed outside a care home in a bid to tackle loneliness.

The colourful drawers, which are outside Highfield Hall care home in Haslingden, were donated to the care home when they were fixed up, and are now being used for people to drop in notes, letters and keep sakes for the residents.

The set of drawers were decorated by Sam Smith, a Co-op member pioneer and pupils from St James' CE Primary School and Haslingden Primary School - with days being put on the drawers.

Sam said: "I got the idea from a colleague in Derbyshire to decorate a set of drawers that could be put outside the care home for the community to leave cards, notes, pictures, gifts to help tackle isolation and loneliness."

Members of the public can put items in the drawers, which are at the front of the care home, or can leave items at the Co-op in Haslingden.

Home manager, Gaynor Lund said: "I think that this is a great idea which brings the community closer together and benefits the Residents who reside in Highfield Hall to keep connected with the outside world.

"Over the past 16 months the Residents at Highfield Hall have had to cope with not seeing their loved ones.

"Words of encouragement, letters from children from the local schools and homemade gifts will be thoroughly welcomed by my residents especially those who are unfortunately have no family.

"The residents at Highfield Hall love to know what’s going on in their local community and what better way to do it than this."