More than 400 children from five primary schools have grown purple crocuses and painted pictures to raise awareness about polio.

’Purple4Polio’ is an initiative led by Rotary Clubs across Britain and Ireland.

The crocus is used as a symbol because it serves as a reminder of the purple ink which is applied to a person’s little finger to show that they have received a polio vaccination.

Ashley Hill, Cronk-y-Berry, Scoill Yn Jubilee, Marown and Scoill Vallajeelt participated.

There was also a competition organised, with certificates handed out to the children for ’best painting’ and ’best crocus’ as well as runner-up awards.

Alex Thomson of Douglas Rotary said: ’There are people in our club who well remember the time when polio was active in our island, with some people currently living with post-polio syndrome - I remember there being cases of it in schools during the 1950s and 60s.

’We want to ensure that no one has to experience this in the future, and this is a key driver for all Rotary members around the world.

’The schools’ programme ties in with the [sponsored] public planting of crocuses which last year was in Summerhill Glen at the lower entrance.’

Every year, the Douglas club raises around £2,500 for the programme, which Mr Thomson said island clubs had been contributing to for well over 20 years.

Raised funds go towards the national UK Rotary organisation - to then be doubled by the Bill Gates Foundation.

Explaining the situation worldwide, Douglas Rotary stated: ’Globally the number of children who have contracted polio since 1988 has decreased by 99.9%, with over 2.5 billion children having received doses of vaccine.

’At the start of the programme there were 125 endemic countries - now there are only two, Afghanistan and Pakistan. If Rotary eases up on its work, it is estimated that there would be at least 200,000 cases annually all over the world within 10 years.’