Covengers Assemble: Pupils draw up NHS heroes tackling the coronavirus after being inspired by Marvel's Avengers

The youngsters have drawn up the Covengers, a gang of heroes similar to those in the Marvel comics called the Avengers.

However, unlike the Avengers, the Covengers are made up of a variety of workers at Blackpool Victoria Hospital, who are coordinating the battle of the respiratory medicine department against Covid-19.

The team meets daily and its members call themselves the Covid Avengers – or “Covengers” for short.

A respiratory consultant at the hospital, Dr Tarek Saba, told his children about this group and they have drawn pictures to show their dad and his friends hard at work.

He said: “My children wanted to make something to show us how they felt about their parents working at the centre of this crisis. I’m so delighted with their work and it’s a huge morale boost to know our children are proud of us and think we are superheroes.

“We’ve had to assemble our team to take on this challenge and it does feel like we are in our own battle and the world will always need superheroes.”

Headteacher Suzanne Thomas added: “All of us at Ansdell Primary School were thrilled last week to be asked to produce something to support the Covengers.

“Talking about Dr Saba and his team has helped the children to understand the seriousness of the outbreak and the dedication of our

NHS staff.

“Children feel strongly about making a contribution to their world so we really appreciated being able to do something positive for our local hospital.

“Coming together as a community, whether local or global, is so incredibly important – especially in these current circumstances.

“The team at Ansdell Primary School is determined to support our NHS and other key worker families.

Gracie Saba, eight, made some artwork. She said: “I’m very happy that someone is doing something about the virus and I wanted to help.”