A CRACK team of real life knitting nanas are using their stitching and purling skills to raise thousands of pounds for the area's hospital.

Hundreds of cardigans and clothes for babies are created by the kind-hearted group of volunteers who work all year round in a bid to generate money for the oncology unit at Barrow's Furness General Hospital.

Led by friends June Hewitt, 78, and Anne Berry, 70, who also co-ordinate monthly raffles, tombolas and bric-a-brac stalls at the Dalton Lane site, the efforts of the fundraisers have so far totaled more than £23,000 for the cancer ward which provides treatment to hundreds of patients every year.

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Mrs Hewitt, from Walney, a retired Cumbria Crystal employee, said she was only too delighted to put her time to good use after becoming a fundraising volunteer in 2003.

"I never dreamed it would end up raising so much money," she told the Evening Mail.

"It started when I had a collection for the oncology unit for my 65th birthday instead of presents.

"I took the money to the office in the hospital and they asked if I would be interested in running table top sales to help boost the fund.

"The rest is history."

Now Mrs Hewitt and Mrs Berry collect items for their stall throughout the month before spending every third Thursday at FGH's reception area selling items directly to staff, patients and visitors.

A favourite among everyone, she claims, is the home-spun knitting which 'cheers everyone up'.

"All the little cardies in lovely colours bring out so many memories for people - they often feel disappointed if they've got no-one to buy them for.

"I absolutely love doing this and knowing every penny goes straight into that unit which is needed by so many people.

"Our town is so generous, people are amazing and we really enjoy meeting everyone when they come to see us," she added.

Paula Richardson, the head of charity and fundraising for the Morecambe Bay Hospitals Charity, said: "June and Anne are absolutely amazing, their devotion to supporting the work of the charity is humbling. 

"We are incredibly privileged to have had such fantastic support over the years, I would encourage anyone else who would like help their Hospitals, or set up a fundraising group to get in touch."