FOUR loving women who put on fun activities for young children on Walney have been thanked in style with the Evening Mail's Bouquet of the Week.

Monica Pugh, Pat Ellis, Laura Darragh and Moira Doyle are the leaders at Toddler Praise, a parent-toddler group which meets at St Mary’s Centre in Church Lane, Walney, every Monday morning during school term time.

The group sees youngsters have fun by taking part in games, sing-a-longs and free play while their parents can stay and have a cuppa.

The four ladies were nominated for their hard work in keeping the group up and running and making sure there are plenty of new ways for the children to enjoy themselves.

Mrs Pugh, who has been involved with Toddler Praise for around 20 years, said it was a kind gesture for the group to have been nominated for the special flowers.

She said: "I went along when I had my own children and I've never left.

"When the children turn up they have free play as it's a staggered start with parents arriving at different times.

"At 10.30am we get together on the carpet and we just have a few songs we sing.

"We stick to the same routine mostly. We have got musical instruments and we do some activities. They go to colouring and have a story on a religious theme.

"We have lots of people come. You get attached to the children but they grow up and move on to nursery or school.

"We have to say thank you to the parents who come along as without them we wouldn't be able to do something we enjoy so much."

Numbers at Toddler Praise vary from week to week but there can be anything from 25 adults with children to 40 adults with children.

The group is aimed from babies to five-year-olds.

Toddler Praise was nominated for the Bouquet of the Week on behalf of the parents by Sophie Lashmar.

Previous Bouquet of the Weeks

Barrow market stalwart receives bouquet for fruit and veg trips

Bouquet for Barrow teacher who taught seven children from same family