A FORMER Bolton woman is getting to grips with her knitting needles and aiming to make 100 woolly jumpers by October.

Mrs Phyllis Baines is knitting pullovers for the children of Chernobyl - but she needs more wool to help her reach her target.

The 65-year-old grandmother, who now lives in Southport, said: "If anyone has been knitting and has a spare ball of wool I'd be very grateful to have it."

Mrs Baines knits patterned jumpers, from patterns created by herself and her 63-year-old husband, Bert. Mr Baines carefully maps the patterns out using graph paper.

Her interest in knitting for children started some years ago when she was making jumpers for youngsters at her local church. She said: "I suddenly realised that the children I was making the clothes for had parents and grandparents and did not need my help as much as the children of somewhere like Chernobyl.

"I then decided I would like to do something for the children in Chernobyl and got in touch with Nina Rogerson."

Bolton woman Nina opened a purpose-built rehabilitation centre in her home town of Chernigov, near Chernobyl.

The centre helps children whose lives were devastated by the world's worst nuclear plant accident.

Mrs Baines started knitting six weeks ago and has already made 20 little jumpers and some knitted toys.

It takes her just four days to knit a jumper and she knits the cuddly toys "in her spare time". Mrs Baines, who still has family living in Bolton, says anyone who can donate wool can contact her in Southport. She said: "We are in Bolton a great deal so can pick it up when we are over here."

She can be contacted on 01704 535819.

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