An Alsager youth group managed to arrange several "fun and engaging" activities over the past year despite the coronavirus pandemic.

Events included regular games evenings, an international quiz night where each young person represented and prepared a quiz round about their chosen country, a number of 'goose chase' evenings where young people were set a series of challenges to complete and provide photographic or video evidence and themed fancy dress evenings.

There was even a Christmas party complete with a Covid secure secret Santa, Sam Parnell, youth leader at Christ Church, Alsager, writes in the latest parish magazine.

He said the group had been meeting via Zoom since the very early stages of the first national lockdown last year.

At first twice weekly, and then when schools started back reduced to once per week, and now sessions are being held on a fortnightly basis.

The sessions are run by Christ Church in partnership with Wesley Place Methodist Church.

Mr Parnell said: "Whilst we continue to hope and pray that some of our groups and youth ministries will be able resume in person over the coming weeks and months, both Jonny Newbould and I have been constantly surprised by how well young people have adapted to meeting online, with most of them having done so much more quickly than their parents or youth leaders.

"We have been able through technology to include young people from Alsager, Sandbach, Nantwich, and even Dorset in the group over the past year, and it has been great to encourage and support young people from a variety of locations, even when their regular local youth groups have not been able to meet."

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