Knitters across Sidmouth and Sidford have united to keep babies and young children warm in Africa.

Jean Bridgeman, of Sidford WI, and Joan Bennett, of the Trefoil Guild, have knitted a number of items to send to Gulu, Uganda, for a maternity unit.

The group had inadvertently been working together until Jean posted on StreetLife to ask users to donate wool for the project. After speaking to Joan, the pair discovered they were both knitting for Duncan and Rosalind Watt.

The couple, who are from Salcombe Regis, act as a courier by taking the items to areas in Africa.

The have spent two years of their lives providing education as part of the East African Missionary Society.

The couple have visited the country 22 times, for periods lasting four days to six weeks.

Rosalind said: “We are incredibly grateful and amazed at the support that people are showing for people many miles away. It is very humbling.”

Duncan added: “We could not do it without the help of other people here in our community. We are just the courier.”

Woman travel for miles to give birth at the maternity unit in Gulu, often starting to go into labour outside of the delivery room. The knitwear has proved very useful when temperatures dip in the wet seasons and in the evening.

Jean, who holds a craft afternoon with the WI, said: “It spurs you on knowing that what you make will get there.”

Duncan and Rosalind will be returning to Gulu in September and have asked for donations of jumpers, hats, new toothbrushes, both for adults and children, and hand-sewing machines. If you can help, contact the Sidmouth Herald on 01392 888511.