MAKING the final stitch on her 100th blanket for local charity Operation Sunshine is Beryl Roberts from Buckland Monachorum.

The mammoth task of creating 100 blankets from balls of donated knitting wool was recently completed by Beryl, watched by Frances Buckingham, who packs the items ready for the journey to the children of Africa.

Beryl is one of many other women from Buckland Monachorum and the local parishes who spend their time knitting and crocheting jumpers, blankets or hats with wool donated by local residents.

Linda Downing, of Operation Sunshine for Buckland Monachorum and other local parishes, said: 'The many balls of knitting wool find their way to many wonderful ladies who transform it into much needed items that Operation Sunshine can send out to the needy in Africa.

'For nearly 20 years, ladies in and around the area have used their skills to make some beautiful items to send out — to date they have made 8,306 woolly hats, 15,063 children's jumpers and 1,359 cot blankets.

'This is all thanks to people like Beryl — it is amazing to see how generous people are. We say knit one, purl one, make one, love one, send one, save one!'