THE Loose End Girls, a group of nine Laindon knitters, have created a woollen Christmas – to try to raise money for Little Haven children’s hospice.

The knitting club has been going since June and will create woollen tree decorations – and an unusual knitted nativity set.

This year they hope to raise up to £900 for the hospice – by selling raffle tickets to their 900 members.

Peggy May, 74, of Ford Close, Laindon, said of the knitting: “Christmas is for children isn’t it and it all just tied in.”

The group has used needles to good effect before. They knitted teddies to send to Chernobyl and Syria.

One of the teddies sent to charity Teddies for Tragedies, was featured on BBC news after a young Syrian victim of war refused to be parted from her knitted friend.

The women have also knitted neonatal clothes for premature babies at Basildon Hospital.

Mrs May said: “We’ve been going for three years now and we are always knitting for charity.”

The goods will go on sale in the last week of November at Laindon Day Centre.

The knitted tree decorations will be on sale for £2 each while the nativity scene is ý Loose End Girls – the ladies with their knitted festive goods being raffled.