Spanish police surprise 9-year-old on his birthday with serenade during lockdown

A family from north Wales living in Spain were serenaded by police during lockdown to wish their son a happy birthday.

The country is currently in a strict lockdown as the government attempts to halt the spread of the disease which has claimed the lives of more than 14,500 people.

The Dickinson family, originally from Penmaenmawr, live near Benidorm in L'Alfàs del Pi, where dad Blane Senior runs a tattoo parlour.

They have not been able to leave the house as a family since 14 March as children are not allowed out at all.

The kind gesture by police "made their" day, Blane told ITV News via Skype..

His son, Blane Jnr, said, "It was just a normal birthday and routine when all of a sudden I heard sirens outside our apartment and then Ruby [my sister] starts calling me. Mum said 'come out to the balcony!'"

Police got to know of Blane's birthday via a family friend and they decided to drop by the family's apartment while out on their routine evening patrol.

"We were just not expecting what they did", Blane said.

"They went above and beyond to make sure he had something special to remember from his birthday during lockdown."

The family said the lockdown is taking its toll on them but they are continuing to keep their spirits up.

"We have a little balcony space we have been using for R and R. It all looks very picturesque but lockdown takes the shine away really. You are not allowed out on the street unless you are going to t he supermarket and then you have to stay inside your house. The children are not allowed out whatsoever.

"We are resilient anyway and we all understand it is all for the greater good", Blane added.

The children also wanted to say 'hello' to their grandparents who live in north Wales.

"My mother is my father's full time carer at home who is suffering from dementia and they could do with smiling too", Blane said.