COVID-19 social isolation is hard for everyone - especially when it means elderly people being separated from much-loved children and grandchildren.

Now one family from Westbury have devised a plan to keep their love for their grandparents alive once the government ends the lockdown restrictions.

Kate and John Wilkinson, of Monkton Deverill, have been given ‘cuddle vouchers’ by two of their six grandchildren, Chloe, 13, and Matthew, 11, who live in Westbury.

The idea came to Chloe after she helped her mum Amanda Hudd, who is immuno-suppressant and vulnerable, to do the weekly shopping at Warminster's Waitrose store.

They then drop it off at their grandparents door, waving to them from a distance during the current Covid-19 social isolation restrictions.

Chloe, who goes to Kingdown School in Warminster, said: "We love our grandparents and miss them very much.

"I came up with the idea of the cuddle vouchers a few weeks ago and drew the design on a piece of card before adding some emojis of my granny and granddad and a message.

"I took a photo of it and then I can send it to them by text or on Whatsapp. They can either look at it on their phone or print it off."

Mrs Wilkinson, 76, said she and her husband John, 83, who is living with dementia, were "delighted" to receive the cuddle vouchers, when they first started to appear.

She said: “Up to lockdown we saw our grandchildren Chloe and Matthew two or three times a week.

“Now Chloe helps out with shopping and leaves it at our front door. When she gets to the gate, we open the door, talk and blow kisses to each other.

“One time Chloe said: ‘Don’t worry nanna, we are saving all your cuddles and kisses up and you can have them all when this is over’.

“And then the cuddle vouchers arrived. I think they will work like a loyalty card in that the days spent in isolation will be stamped on the side in return for cuddles!”

Mr Wilkinson was diagnosed with dementia at the end of 2018 and is keeping busy during lockdown by doing jigsaws while being looked after by Kate and being supported by the charity Alzheimer's Support.

To keep John occupied during the enforced social isolation period, she also ordered an old copy of The National Songbook for him that he remembers from school.

She said: “He spends hours looking at it and it brings back memories.”

The couple met in 1961 when Mr Wilkinson taught Kate to drive. They married in 1964 and have three children, Amanda, Andrew and Louise.

Mrs Wilkinson added: “At the time I thought John’s dementia was the end of the world but found that attending Alzheimer’s Support’s Movement for the Mind sessions has helped us both.

“We found the group very warm and friendly and, can I say, normal. From there we gradually started attending other things together and I started getting things in perspective.”

Visits from Alzheimer’s Support’s dementia adviser and support worker have also benefited them.

Kate said: “I realised I was so wound up about the whole thing that I would snap. It felt as if I was on duty 24/7 and needed time to hand over the reins to someone else.

“Carol and Alison are a godsend and not only do I get time to myself, they also seem tostimulate John too as he is definitely much happier and talkative after their visits.”

Mr Wilkinson also attends the charity's Old Silk Works Day Club in Warminster, despite not being keen on the idea initially and taking a while to get used to it. He will be returning once lockdown is over.

“I insisted he go and told him it was for my benefit as I had a lot to do,” said Mrs Wilkinson.

“However, now, he really loves it and almost gallops up the ramp to the Silk Works without a backward glance.”

Mr Wilkinson has also enjoyed singing sessions led by Alzheimer’s Support in Wiltshire via Zoom.

The couple are also receiving regular phone calls from the charity’s staff to check on their wellbeing and to see if there is anything else they need.