THE generation gap was bridged in poetic style at an event in Okehampton's Ockment Centre on Saturday.

Some 70 people, young and old, came together to celebrate the publication of books of poems written about their grandparents by children at 14 primary schools in the area.

Children, their parents and grandparents, teachers and governors, attended the event, which was organised by the Okehampton branch of the Senior Council for Devon, the forum for people aged over 50. Also present were the mayor and mayoress of West Devon, Cllr John Hockridge and Margaret Hockridge, and the mayor and mayoress of Okehampton, Cllr Michael Morse and Mary Morse.

A surprise visitor for the children was Pudsey Bear, who went on to raise £95 for the Children in Need Appeal.

Okehampton branch Senior Council chairman Margaret Woolacott said: 'The day was a great success, showing the work of the children who between them had written 700 poems about their grandparents. One of the aims of the Senior Council is to encourage understanding between the generations, and this scheme has certainly done that.

'On behalf of the branch I'd like to thank all those who took part, and also the students from Okehampton College who helped in a variety of ways.'