MEMBERS of Droitwich Knitting Circle have presented a huge number of items to several charities to be distributed to homeless people, premature babies and to youngsters in need through Operation Christmas Child.

The knitting circle made the presentation this week to representatives from the Salvation Army and Shine Africa, handing over the items they’ve been knitting this year.

Established two and a half years ago, the circle, which is made up of just over 20 busy knitters, knitting items in their spare time, has put together more than 3,000 items for various charities.

Ann Reed who organises the knitting circle, said: “We’ve got about 70 odd names on the register. I actually didn’t think that it would take off in the way it has. I thought it would be half a dozen people coming to my house for a cup of coffee and a knit and natter.

“We started off knitting for Support for Soldiers, and we knitted hundreds of hats for the soldiers in Afghanistan. Now we knit tabards for newborns in places like India and African countries. When some babies are newborn there they have nothing to put them up in, so they wrap them in newspaper and they get the name ‘fish and chip’ babies.

“I’m very proud actually, and it’s also a community based thing. A lot of the ladies are widows, they look forward to coming for a chat, and we also have some ladies come from Kingfields Day Centre.”

Droitwich mayor Bob Brookes attended the presentation, with Jenny Forman from the Salvation Army, and Bob Shipman from Shine Africa accepting the items from the knitting circle.

Before the knitters get started on their target for next year, they’re putting out an appeal to the community for any spare wool which they might be able to use. Anyone wanting to donate wool can do so by dropping it off at Droitwich Library.

If anyone wants to join the Droitwich Knitting Circle, they can contact Ann Reed on 01905 796914. The circle meets in the upstairs gallery at Droitwich Library every alternate Wednesday, and members pay £1 every session.