CHILDREN at a north Dorset primary school have been doing their bit to cheer up soldiers serving in some of the most dangerous parts of the world.

Youngsters at Okeford Fitzpaine Primary School drew pictures and wrote letters to be sent out to servicemen and women in Afghanistan and Iraq.

The children did the drawings and Easter cards just before their school holidays and came back this term to find the soldiers had sent them letters and photographs in return.

Headteacher Mark Acreman said: "We had an Easter card competition, which a number of children entered, then in the village magazine, the Fippenny News, there was an article about the possibility of sending cards out to soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan and we thought we would combine the projects."

The cards, pictures and letters were sent off and the soldiers quickly wrote back and included a large photograph of them holding up the work the children had sent.

The replies received at the village school, which has 60 pupils, also included a message from a soldier who had undergone training at the nearby Blandford Camp.

"He remembered the area well and it was great for the children to see the local connection in the letter he sent back.

"The children thought it was lovely and the soldiers said how nice it was to know they were being thought of by children in Britain when they are so far away from home.