Children at Hornbeam Primary have joined in the fight to stop the threatened closure of Sampson Court, next to their school in Mongeham Road, Deal.

They have written a series of letters to the county council, saying the elderly residents would be "upset, anxious and scared" if they had to leave the care home.

Hornbeam School head teacher Barbara Beraet said: "The children readily and happily composed letters of support for our elderly neighbours.

"Having experienced our own school closure we are able to empathise with the feelings and emotions they must be experiencing during this difficult consultation period.

"South Deal and Mongeham only had a school building to lose and the spirit of both schools has been able to flourish through Hornbeam, but Sampson Court residents will be losing their home. Nothing can compare with that!"

Jessica Rayner, nine, wrote in her letter to KCC that the closure of the care home would disappoint many people who live there.

"We think Sampson Court should stay open as the elderly people would feel lonely if it closed. It is a very special place."

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