Thousands of care home residents are receiving Christmas cards from school pupils thanks to two sister dailies.

The Eastern Daily Press and Norwich Evening News’ Christmas Cards to Care Homes project has reached the residents and staff in 45 care homes across East Anglia.

More than 20 schools have been involved in the campaign to design and send the cards, which were quarantined by the school and again by the homes before being given to residents.

Samantha Bailey, marketing manager for the Black Swan group, said staff and residents were “over the moon” to be part of the campaign which saw cards delivered to nine of its homes based in Great Yarmouth, Norwich, East Harling, King’s Lynn and Hunstanton.

Some of the cards designed for the project

She told the EDP: “This year has meant our residents have missed out on activities they would usually take part in within the community, so this is a brilliant way of letting them know they are a vital part of their local communities and that people outside the home are thinking of them.

“It means so much to us that children at local schools want to send cards to our residents, it’s such a kind and generous gesture and we cannot thank them enough.

“These will mean so much to our residents throughout Norfolk and are sure to put huge smiles on their faces.

“Thank you to Archant for organising this lovely initiative.”