A THOUGHTFUL boy has come up with a novel idea to help lonely patients returning home from hospital.

Kyle Nugent, a primary seven pupil at Lady Alice, asked his school friends to hand in books to help charity Compassionate Inverclyde.

The books will now be included in their Back Home Boxes and each has a sticker inside saying the book has been donated by Lady Alice Primary.

Kyle said: "We were asked to think of a project as part of our dynamic youth award.

"I came up with the idea of Back Home Books and I sent a letter out to everyone in the school."

The appeal took off and Kyle received around 150 books from pupils and staff, with more donations pouring in.

Kyle, 11, said: "I like reading, that's why I came up with the idea.

"I'm really pleased with the response."

The whole school got involved and there was a competition to design the sticker to go on the inside front page of the book.

Avaleigh Lang, from P1, won the competition and the whole school has taken part in the venture with classes colouring in the stickers and individual pupils who coloured them in, wrote writing their names on them before the are delivered to the public.

Alison Akhtar, the charity volunteer co-ordinator praised Kyle and the school for all its efforts.

She said: "They've done lots of work to create this project for Compassionate Inverclyde.

"We try to involve everyone with the project."

Avaleigh Lang won the sticker design competition.

Jim Crawford, who teaches P7, said: "I am always impressed with the great ideas that primary seven come up with.

"I am so pleased for Kyle who took on the responsibility from sending out the letters and saw it right through.

"He has also gained great skills by being able to help people.

"The school is very proud that Kyle has been thinking of others."