Pupils are pulling together to support hospital staff working on the coronavirus frontline.

Students at West Hatch High School, Chigwell, have filled hundreds of bags of toiletries for staff at Princess Alexandra Hospital, Harlow.

The school has been supporting the hospital and its staff through the voluntary group WECU2020.

The school's Head of PE, Coralie Reid, said: "It is a voluntary group which has been making care packages for the doctors and nurses working so hard during lockdown.

She has been assisted by her daughters, Sophie and Emily, and also students at the High Road school.

"We packed 300 bags at home, with my daughters working hard to make sure we filled the bags and boxed them up, with the students at school helping with another 750 bags."

She added: "It was Mental Health Awareness week at West Hatch so pupils were given a break from being set work and I thought it was the perfect time for them to help."

Hundreds of items were collected from a warehouse with the students working hard to unload the goods before they set up a 'military-style operation' in the school hall as they took about eight hours to pack the bags, box them up, and load a school minibus ready for delivery to Princess Alexandra Hospital.

The packages contain items such as moisturiser, lip balm, deodorants, make-up and shower gel.

Ms Reid said: "The pupils, and staff who were working at the time, worked so, so hard, it was such a team effort and I couldn’t be more proud to work for a school which embraces these sort of opportunities.

"WECEU2020 ('we see you') is such a fantastic group which has been put together from voluntary contributions, and with only volunteers."I am extremely proud that we have been able to support it."

The school hopes to put together another 200 bags in the coming days.

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