According to a concensus of social commentators, last Monday (25th January) was the 'most depressing day of the year'.

To counter this, a nationwide 'Random Acts of Kindness Day' was decreed, and Sure got into the spirit of things by bringing smiles to faces across the Island.

Their Acts of Kindness included delivering a yard of pasty to Douglas Fire Station (pictured); livening up Nobles Hospital with an entertainer, cream cakes and donations of models to the hospital's 'art cart'; treating the residents of the Castle View and Ellan Vannin nursing homes to a trip to the Broadway cinema, followed by tea and cakes; and giving filmgoers at the Palace Cinema free popcorn.

Julie Heselton, Sure’s Marketing Manager, said, "It was a fantastic day, and I am delighted that so many people got involved. 

"We started doing Random Acts of Kindness during 2009, and the more we did, the more we wanted to do, so having a whole day devoted to them was brilliant.

"The point of a RAK Day is to give an unexpected treat to people, without asking for anything in return," she added.  "It’s our way of giving something back to the community."

Islanders were also encouraged to do their own RAKs, and St Mary’s School and Manor Park School were among those who did.

Sue Mowle, Headteacher of Manor Park School, said, "We explored the theme of Random Acts of Kindness in our school assembly, and the children were challenged to perform a RAK, either at school or after school at home or in the community."

On Tuesday (26th January), every pupil was given a paper leaf on which they could write their RAK and these will be displayed on a 'kindness tree' at the school.

Pupils at St Mary’s were treated to Scottish kindness, with haggis, poetry recited by the Headteacher, Brian Blair, and the flag of Scotland, St Andrew’s Cross, flying from the school flagpole.