PICTURES of rainbows have started springing up in windows in Crediton to cheer up passers by during the coronavirus pandemic.

Parents have been encouraging children to paint and put up paintings to "spread hope" after a trend started in Italy and then moved online.

The pictures have been lifting people’s spirits but the hope is that more will appear throughout the town.

Some children have sent rainbow pictures to family members across the UK.

One mum, whose son made a rainbow, said it was "a truly wonderful idea while we are all facing such worries with our health, our jobs and children’s education".

"This has offered a positive approach," she said.

"It’s bringing families together at home to create a rainbow, making people smile if they are spotted in windows. It’s bringing our wonderful school and even the world together.

"It’s showing that we are all in this together."

One person said: "We did not want it all to be doom and gloom for the children.

"We thought this would be a really visual way of bringing hope at a time when there is not much out there."

Another said it could be an "antidote to negativity in the world".

Absolutely anybody can take part in making a rainbow for their window while they’re going through social isolation, adults as well as children.

Another person added: "It just cheers people up a little bit in these tough times we’re going through. It’s something that can unite us.

"There’s always something good that comes out of these horrible situations. Somebody will walk past and think, that’s a lovely idea."

• If you want to share a photo of your rainbow with other "Crediton Courier" readers, get someone to take a photo of you holding it and email it to: [email protected] .

In addition, why not share images of your social isolation activities for consideration for publication.

Please ensure you have your parent’s permission if you are of school age.