A CRACK team of knitting pensioners have fashioned a set of intricately crafted blankets in aid of African people in need.

The five women, who live at Grosvenor Court in Suffolk Road, were led by expert knitter Diana Slatem.

Diana said she hopes the group, all of whom are in their 70s and 80s, will capture the imagination of others.

“One of the things I don’t like to do is sit in front of the TV all evening and have nothing to show for it,” she added.

“This is the third batch of 10 blankets we have made since we started a year ago.”

Diana was formerly a member of Ferndown Inner Wheel where she met Janet Day, who collected the ladies blankets on behalf of the organisation last week.

Inner Wheel provides help for countries throughout the world, and one of their many projects involves collecting blankets their members have made to distribute to people in Africa.

Janet said: “We tend to think of Africa as a hot place , but they do have their seasons too.

“Blankets are needed, especially in the winter when the nights can get very cold.

“In orphanages children need something to cuddle up to, as do older people as well.”

The last selection of blankets made by the group went to an old people’s home in Tanzania, and the group hope that their latest efforts are put to similarly good use.

Janet said the help of the women is gratefully received and makes a real difference to people who otherwise would go without the warmth the blankets provide.

One of the knitters helping, Kath McHugh, said it has become a great hobby for the group too.

“It would be nice if we could show others in the community like us who think they can’t knit, that they can,” she added.

Janet said she is keen to encourage others to get involved with the knitting project and others organised by Inner Wheel.

For more details, call Janet on 01202 876400.