SPECIAL babies in Bolton Royal Hospital's neo-natal unit are to be kept warm thanks to the talents of needlework students.

The new borns are to snuggle up under tiny patchwork quilts made specially for them by gifted mature students at Bolton College.

Each individual quilt will be taken home by the child when it is well enough to go home.

And for those babies who sadly do not survive, the padded blankets can be one of the few lasting memories grieving parents have of their child.

If the family wishes the baby can be wrapped in the quilt for a last cuddle and photograph and they can then take the blanket home with them.

The students on the needlework course organised by the University of the Third Age at the college's Clarence Street Centre are mostly in their 70s and 80s.

The 10 women have roped in their friends to help out with the scheme and have spent five months making the first batch of 25 quilts for the hospital.

work is continuing to ensure a regular supply of the blankets for the baby unit.

Eileen Eltham and Jean Shaw recently presented the first quilts to midwife Margaret Watt.

"We are very grateful for these beautiful gifts, they are very useful at the hospital," said Margaret.

"So much work and love has gone into them and they are such a lovely idea."