A group of schoolchildren have spent the past month trying to lift the spirits of a soldier who had to fight for his life after he was run over by a car.

The pupils, aged between 6 and 10, started to write letters to Royal Bermuda Regiment Private Ndavyah Williams, who is recovering in hospital in the United States after the June 29 incident.

They were encouraged to support Private Williams at the Kids Just Want to Have Fun, summer camp, attended by Paget Primary School pupils.

They have also produced art work and a video of their messages.

One child wrote: “Thank you for being a hero while doing the roadblock.”

Another said: “I hope you get out of hospital soon — thank you for keeping us safe.”

Ethel Liverpool, who teaches the camp with Irma Nisbett, said: “We were talking to the children about the curfew and other things related to Covid and this was the springboard to our connection with Private Williams.

“We discussed what a curfew is and the fact that Private Williams was working to keep people safe and monitoring the traffic on the road when he was run over by the car.

“They became so fascinated — they wanted to do something to try to make him happy.”

Private Williams, who joined the RBR in June last year, suffered multiple injuries when he was hit by a car that sped through a Covid-19 curfew checkpoint on South Road, Devonshire.

Private Kirk Wilks Jr suffered a broken leg in the incident.

Private Williams, the father of a one-year-old daughter, is recovering in the US after surgery. The students’ parents have also chipped in and raised funds which will go towards Private Williams’s medical bills.

The children are also working on a display dedicated to the soldier.

They drew palm trees, which they chose to represent resilience.

The display also features his favourite food, colour, sport, music, movies, what school he attended and what his favourite subject was, prepared with help from Private Williams’s mother, Linnell Williams.

Ms Liverpool added: “We talk about community service at school and being good citizens.

“The simple things in life and those small gestures go far and the children are understanding that they are never too young to make a difference.”