A patchwork quilt is on its way to Parliament to raise awareness of those reported to have ‘disappeared’ in Syria.

East Devon Amnesty Group members have made the squares from men’s shirt and written the names of 20 individuals in English and Arabic to represent a small number of the 82,000 reportedly missing in the country.

The members say the unique quilt will be shown at Parliament on the day MPs watch the film Syria Disappeared.

The quilt was designed by Sidmouth resident Gretchen Danckwardt, who has 40 years experience and is a member of the group. She was helped by fellow member Angela Lambert.

Gretchen said: “The red writing on the quilt represents the human blood the cellmates used to write down, the names of those locked up in the prison. The names were written on small pieces of shirt cloth using chicken bones as pens.

“The cloth pieces were then secretly sewn into the collars of those lucky enough to be leaving prison. It was the only way their relatives and loved ones knew they were alive.

“The quilt has frayed edges and a rough and ready look to portray the conditions under which the prisoners worked.”