A COUPLE who have fostered hundreds of children and helped elderly people around Bournemouth over the past 30 years have been rewarded for their acts of kindness.

Andrew and Ann Jones, from Pokesdown, have won a Nissan Qashqai car after being nominated by son Kevin in a competition organised by the car maker and Kindness UK.

Andrew, 67, and Ann, 68, were given the keys at Poole’s Westover dealership.

The pair were chosen by judges from the car firm and David Jamilly from Kindness UK for their commitment to helping children in need and organising Sunday lunches and shopping trips for the elderly at their church, St James in Pokesdown.

Andrew said: “I was really shocked when I found out that I’d been put forward for the Nissan CARED4 competition.

“My son Kevin nominating me was such a kind thing to do and I was so happy to have won.

“The Qashqai will make a real difference to us and will enable us to help out the older members of the community and get around easier.”

Ann said they couldn’t have done their work without the support of “marvellous social workers”.

Assistant Priest at the church, The Revd Canon Pamela Schollar, said: “They’re very long standing members of St James Pokesdown and fostered for many years until recently.

“I don’t know what we would do without them, their work has been invaluable over the years and we’re thrilled for them.”

The campaign saw acts of kindness organised around the country, including free car washes and giving out umbrellas.

A spokesman for Nissan CARED4 said: “Andrew’s nomination stood out to us in particular as someone who tries selflessly to bring happiness to others and regularly goes out of his way to bring acts of kindness to his community.”