A schoolgirl has started a trend which is brightening up the day for many walkers.

Ruby Blunt, 12, of Workington, took home three pebbles to paint because she wanted to put a smile on people’s faces and now there are more than 700 stones lining the footpath in Mill Field.

She began with two ladybirds and a turtle and has watched the stones grow daily from her home, which overlooks the route.

Ruby, who is a pupil at Keswick School, said: “This is my route for my daily exercise. I walk along the footpath as I know many others do.

“I thought I’d put some stone art down for people to see, to make them smile and to show my appreciation for the NHS and all key workers.

“Every day more and more kids have put their stones down, the line is massively growing now and I would love to see this get around the whole park.”

With my dad being a police officer and my mum working in a bank, I see how hard it is for key workers to leave their homes for others.

“Thank you NHS and all key workers.”

Stones include messages of support and thanks to many different frontline staff and key workers and there is a stone which has Captain Tom Moore painted on it.

Ruby’s dad, Daniel, said: “Everybody is enjoying it. She only started it off about 10 days ago and the very next day people were adding to it, people are adding to it every day.”