A SOUTHAMPTON school has built an outside rainbow gallery with the help of more than 600 pupils - who are staying inside their homes.

Wordsworth Primary School, in Shirley, saw over 55 drawings from children in one day after headteacher Rick Page and Year Five teacher Leanne Galbally came up with the idea on Thursday.

In a bid to "bring hope and happiness to the local community" after schools were ordered to close from Friday March 20, pupils were challenged to create their own rainbows.

Schools across Southampton and the UK were closed following advice from the UK government.

While eight students with key worker parents are being cared for in the school, they have also contributed to the colourful display as staff work in the premises on a rota basis.

Teacher Leanne said: "We wanted to give them a challenge to create their own rainbows, send them into us and brighten up our school building.

"This is a way to remind them that, although they might not be at school, they are certainly still part of our Wordsworth school family and we are in it together."

Pupils have been sending the drawings in through the school's online system since Thursday.

Leanne said she still has more rainbows to stick up on the school fence, sent in from pupils who are adding to the collection.

She added: "The public have been saying how lovely it is and that it's been making them smile.

"The gallery is building every day, and we can't wait to see it unfold over the next few weeks."

The colourful drawings consist of many different rainbows, with some warning people to stay safe and spread hope and happiness during this time.

The idea follows government instructions that people must only leave their homes for key workers to make essential travel to and from work, to buy food and essentials, for one form of exercise a day and to care for the vulnerable.