Homeowners at McCarthy and Stone's The Oaks Retirement Living development in Alsager recently received stories from the upper and lower Key Stage 2 pupils from a local primary school.

Residents from The Oaks enjoyed receiving stories from pupils at Alsager Highfields Community Primary School as part of a short story competition.

The children of Alsager Highfields Community Primary School put pen to paper and wrote their own original stories.

Homeowners, Marcia Winkle, Ray Guest and Eileen Hollinshead worked to judge the stories.

Two winners were chosen, Erin Young and Olivia Malpas. As well as runners-up, Summer Skerrett, Robyn Griffiths, George Byron and Ellie Howard.

They each received a National Book Token to help encourage them to enjoy their love of reading even more.

Erin said: "I am so excited l won and am really happy that everyone enjoyed reading my story."

Olivia said: "I can't believe I won. I might like to be an author when I grow up now!"

Deborah Bond, marketing executive at McCarthy Stone, said: "It's great for our homeowners because like many of us they are unable to see their family at the moment and for those that have grandchildren they're really missing them.

"So, these intergenerational connections are a great source of enjoyment and a great way to strengthen our community links.

"It makes for a different kind of day for them getting involved in something like this."

Eileen Hollinshead, a homeowner at The Oaks said: "The enthusiasm and confidence from the children in telling their stories has been great fun to witness.

"We thoroughly enjoyed reading through them all, and although it took us a long time, every single one of them was a delight.

"We have some very talented writers in Alsager it was hard to pick just one winner.

"We want to say a big thank you to the pupils and teachers at Alsager Highfields Community Primary School for being so thoughtful and kind."