PENSIONER Elsie Whittle came up with a purl of an idea to thank the hospital that treated her late husband.

She decided to dress dolls for sale to raise funds for Bolton Royal infirmary.

Elsie, 79, of Lincoln Close, Tyldesley, lost her retired taxi driver husband Arthur, at the age of 80, following a fall at home, in November last year.

She decided she must do something in return to thank the doctors and nurses for his wonderful treatment and came up with the idea of buying dolls and dressing them in knits.

She was joined in her scheme by her sister Annie Coppock and during the year they have both bought wool and completed 50 dolls between them.

Some will be sold by hospital fund raisers within the next two weeks.

Elsie, who was married for 57 years, said Arthur who suffered from emphysema was so bad he had to sleep sitting up. Last year he fell from his chair during the night and broke his hip in two places. His chest condition was so bad doctors at the hospital were unable to operate and he died two days later.

She said: "The doctors and nurses were marvellous. They couldnt do enough for me and my family and I decided to do something to replay them. I have always been a knitter and find the pastime very relaxing. I have treatment myself at the hospital for heart problems and I always take my knitting and the finished dolls in the ambulance with me when I go."

A keen member of Tyldesley Methodist Church Elsie has also made nativity sets for seven different churches.

She is proud of the fact that she married in the same week as The Queen and received a green hearth rug from the palace as a royal gift.

She said: "Sadly it has long since worn out."

The dolls will be displayed in glass cases in the hospital corridors before being sold.