KIND-HEARTED patients in Dunfermline have been picking up their knitting needles to help disaster-hit children in Nepal. 

They've been joined by staff and visitors at Whitefield Day Hospital, within Queen Margaret Hospital, and created 96 woollen teddy bears, hats, mittens, scarves and cardigans for the little ones. 

The knitters have donated their work to the Teddies for Tragedy charity, which supports children affected by natural disasters around the world. 

Local Teddies for Tragedies project co-ordinator, Norma Brown, said: “This generous donation from staff and patients at the Whitefield Day Hospital will go to Nepalese children to help see them through the bitter winters.”

The Dunfermline donation takes the total amount of locally knitted and crocheted items to almost 3,000 and the latest creations will go towards helping young people affected by the devastating earthquakes in Kathmandu, Nepal, in 2014.

Physiotherapist at Whitefield Day Hospital, Janet Thomas, added: “Whilst the children will be the ultimate beneficiaries, the process of knitting and crocheting also provides a boost to many patients, some of whom had given up knitting for many years before taking part, and many have continued to create and send in knitted goods once they have been discharged from the day hospital.”