A book-loving schoolboy with a heart of gold is bridging the generation gap on his weekly visits to a care home.

Rhys Sutton, 11, goes to Pendine Park’s Highfield House Care Home in Wrexham where he spends time reading some of his favourite books to residents who now have difficulty reading themselves.

The would-be author’s sessions began when he had an unexpected day off school at Ysgol Tanyfron near Wrexham.

Instead he went to work with his mum, Nicole, a mobile hairdresser who has been visiting Pendine Park care homes styling the hair of residents for more than 20 years.

Rhys enjoyed his first visit to Pendine Park so much he asked if he could go back and read more stories to residents and now, he regularly visits and has become firm friends with a number of residents.

He said: “I’ve been coming to Pendine Park for about two years now. I really like all the residents but there are three ladies I just love reading stories to Thelma, Gladys and Lillian.

“Lillian likes to colour more than listen to stories though and she has told me I’m now her best mate!

“I take my own books in, things like Enid Blyton, Rupert stories or Ladybird books. And at Christmas I took in stories such as The Snowman and Santa Comes to North Wales.”

Rhys says he now has ambitions on becoming an author himself and is already planning his first novel.

He said: “I just love reading. I used to like football and stuff but prefer to just curl up with a book.

“I would like to be an author but if not a police officer.

“I look at how famous authors like J K Rowling write their stories. I’ve already got ideas for my first couple of stories I just need to use my imagination.”

He added: “It isn’t just reading and colouring though. I love to hear the stories Thelma, Lillian and Gladys tell me about their lives and what it was like when they were my age.

“They are really funny and we have a really good laugh when they tell me what they used to get up to.

“I really enjoy visiting Pendine Park and will keep on going and reading to the ladies and other residents as long as they want me to.”

Resident Lillian Moulton, 88, says Rhys is a wonderful young man.

She said: “He’s such as lovely boy I just love his company. My grandson is 39 now, it’s ridiculous having a grandchild that old!

“I love Rhys reading to us and I love chatting about all sorts of things as we colour pictures in.”

Gladys Cross, 85, added: “It’s so nice having Rhys here. He’s great at reading and it’s always a pleasure to listen to him.

“I struggle to read myself now so having the chance to hear some stories is lovely.”

Thelma Williams, who will celebrate her 95th birthday later this year, says having Rhys come in and read to her is “wonderful”.

She said: “It’s so lovely. Having Rhys read makes the days shorter. He’s a very good reader and it’s just nice to hear his voice.

“It’s also good to talk about our lives and remember things from when I was his age.”

Mum Nicole said: “I’m very proud of Rhys. Some residents have lost the ability to read themselves and they clearly enjoy his reading sessions.

“It’s lovely to see the interaction when he’s reading stories such as one of Enid Blyton’s Famous Five novels.”

Pendine Park’s senior enrichment and activities coordinator Christine Lewis said the residents love his visits.

“It’s important for residents to have an opportunity to see and hear young people and children,” she said. “They obviously enjoy talking to Rhys about their own childhoods and reminiscing is really good for their own wellbeing.”

“Nicole should be really proud of Rhys. He really is a little star and we are delighted he’s happy to visit and read to residents. It makes a huge difference to their lives and their well-being.

“The arts are at the heart of everything we do so what Rhys does fits in perfectly with our ethos of enriching the lives of our residents and staff alike.”