A villager has raised £376 for save the children by making and selling knitted teddies.

Trish Ashmore, of Shipham, stepped in with the idea to make up for the lack of money being raised at the village hall’s usual Friday lunches, which stopped in March due to the pandemic and lockdown.

Cash raised at the lunches contribute to Shipham village hall’s bi-annual donations to Save The Children. The planned September reopening did not materialise, leaving funds severely depleted and the venue has been hard hit as a result of the continued closure.

In addition, £254 was raised in October at a garden table top sale, followed by a £100 order for Christmas cards.

Joint coordinator for Shipham village hall’s Save The Children fundraising, Audrey Birch, said: “Well done to all who gave their support.

"We hope to return on January 8, 2021 at 12.30pm, we are still around and are anxious to get back to serving you all lunches.”