Bin man thanks thankful children

Advent calendars for those who drew pictures

After receiving so much support from children on his round throughout the pandemic, one of North Devon Council’s green-bin lorry drivers decided to give something back.

At the beginning of the first lockdown, five year-old twins Emma and Sophie Lincoln loved colouring-in thank you messages for the bin men.

One of them was Den Scott, who has now returned the favour and has been delivering advent calendars and chocolate selection packs back to homes where children left him drawings and thank you letters.

Den said: “The drawings and thank you letters we have been receiving from the children on our round have really lifted our spirits throughout this pandemic and kept us going even when things were really tough.

“As Christmas is going to be so different this year, we wanted to spread a little festive cheer and thank the children and their families for all the support we’ve had from them.”

Emma and Sophie were delighted to receive their advent calendar, and their mum Louise said: “I’m so glad it’s December now as they have been asking everyday since they were delivered when they can open them. They were really happy with the gifts and we are so grateful to the waste and recycling teams for everything they have done throughout the pandemic.”