A SLEEPOVER AT GRANNY’S — IT WAS THE BEST NEWS EVER!

MAUREEN NIELD, 73, lives alone in Inskip, Lancashire. She was reunited this weekend with granddaughter Jemima, ten. Maureen has two other grandchildren, Will, 17, and Jim, 14.

MAUREEN SAYS: ‘I usually collect Jemima from school on a Wednesday and we bake cakes and watch TV together. She’s very tactile and likes to sit close to me when we watch TV.

‘Although I’ve been keeping in touch with my family on the phone and FaceTime, not being able to hug my grandchildren has been the hardest part of lockdown.

‘When the news came that we could form a support bubble with another household I was delighted.

‘Choosing between my grandchildren was difficult, and I felt awful leaving the others out — but the boys are a little bit more independent.

‘Jemima has been the one who seemed to be missing the family the most. She wrote me a letter last week, telling me how much she missed our Wednesday afternoons and was looking forward to the time we could be together again.

‘She was desperate to come for a sleepover, something she usually does once a month or so, but hasn’t been able to do since lockdown began.

‘When we got into the house I told her we were allowed to have a hug. She gave me the biggest cuddle and burst into tears. That set me off, too!

‘It was very emotional. I have missed all my grandchildren so much but this is the light at the end of the tunnel.’

JEMIMA SAYS: ‘Being able to go for a sleepover at Grandma’s was the best news ever. I was so excited.

‘I have missed my grandma so, so much.’