STUDENTS from Royal Wootton Bassett Academy were out in force on Wednesday morning delivering Christmas hampers to elderly residents.

Every year a team of students from Year 11 who have recorded significant achievements, or otherwise done well, deliver the hampers around Bassett as part of an age-old yuletide tradition fondly nicknamed the Chicken Run.

In each hamper, delivered by 45 students from the school, 214 elderly residents received a chicken, potatoes, carrots, peas, mince pies and a Christmas pudding.

There was also a Christmas card handmade by students in Year 7.

David Storey, the head of Year 11, said: “It’s a really good community venture.

“We managed to do all the deliveries before the weather turned in the afternoon.

“It’s a popular venture with the elderly residents too.

“Last week we had one call up to find out when we were delivering to make sure that they would be at home to receive it.”

“Our school motto is ‘A Global School in a Local Community’, and while we do a lot of international work it’s also really important to support the local community.”

This year, Morrisons supported the Chicken Run by providing half of the wares, while the academy covered the rest of the food.