YOUNGSTERS at a primary school received a special message from Peppa Pig’s dad as they finished up for their summer holidays.

Daddy Pig sent the children and staff at The Hub at Sanderson’s Wynd  Primary School, Tranent, best wishes as he urged youngsters to “be kind” to people.

The greeting, which was shared on Twitter, was recorded by actor Richard Ridings, who voices Daddy Pig in the popular cartoon series.

In the 36-second-long message, he sent special greetings to all the children who attended The Hub and their teachers and staff.

He told them: “I know we are living in a very, very strange time at the moment but as long as we keep on smiling and keep being kind to people then I think we’ll all be alright.”

The message was recorded after Mr Ridings, who played Bernard Green in the BBC’s Common As Muck and was also in Alan Ashburn’s drama Fat Friends, was approached by the parent of one of the children at the school.

And it was shared on Twitter by the school, which admitted depute headteacher Clare Palmer-Fairbairn was “ridiculously excited” by the message from the Peppa Pig patriarch.

Mark McKenzie, who contacted Mr Ridings about the message, said he wanted to  do something special for the school.

Mark, who lives in Prestonpans with wife Laura and their two children, Murray, 10, and Sophie, seven, is a presenter on BFBS the Forces Station every afternoon and said interviewing ‘Daddy Pig’ Richard last year was a dream for his family.

Mark, who has interviewed celebrities from the Bee Gees to David Bowie, said son Murray, who attends The Hub and has a rare chromosome disorder, loved Peppa Pig.

He said: “Seeing how Murray responds to the show and his reactions, Peppa Pig has been a regular fixture in our house. When I had the opportunity to interview Richard for BFBS I was excited and nervous – he couldn’t have been nicer.

“We kept in touch occasionally afterwards; he had offered to record a message for my children and I asked if he might share one for the school. He responded straight away.”

Mark described The Hub, which Murray has been attending since he was three, as “an absolute haven”.

He said: “The staff are fantastic and it makes such a difference for us. The integration between the school and Hub is brilliant.”

Clare Palmer-Fairbairn said: “Mark got in touch to say he had a bit of a surprise and, knowing his creative ideas and connections through work, I was intrigued!

“Mark initially sent the audio clip and I could not believe it was the real deal Daddy Pig! Such a thoughtful and kind gesture from the actor Richard Ridings and for Mark to make this happen.

“We created a bit of suspense prior to the clip being shared, letting the Sanderson’s Wynd community know we had a summer message from an international celebrity. There was great excitement and guesses amongst staff as to who it might be!

“When we shared it in our final week of term, the response was wonderful – so many likes and cheerful comments from pupils, staff, parents and carers!

“I have been chatting with families over the phone and many spoke about what an amazing surprise this was and how happy it made them.

“Part of Daddy Pig’s happy message is about smiling, kindness and outdoor learning (in muddy puddles) – all part of the Sanderson’s Wynd approach so we couldn’t have asked for a better summer message!”