Youngsters at a north Sutherland primary school have been having bags of fun by getting creative in the run-up to the festive season.

The pupils at Melvich are enjoying having an Advent calendar with a difference this year, in a way that has helped cut down on waste.

During weekly art lessons the children designed and created decorative bags from recyclable materials to represent each day of Advent leading up to December 24.

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Within each bag are festive gifts purchased by the parent council.

Depute head teacher Jane MacKintosh praised the efforts of art teacher Anne Munro and thanked the parent council members for their contribution.

She said: “Thank you to our art teacher, Mrs Munro, for coming up with such a wonderful idea to help celebrate Advent within our school. We are also very fortunate to be supported by a very active parent council who paid for the treats inside each bag."

The Melvich pupils have also been presented with a Christmas gift from area cook Claire McGovern, who is currently working in the school. Claire is an accomplished folded-book artist in her spare time and the children say they are delighted with her Countdown to Christmas book.

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