PROJECT Linus, which donates hand-made quilts to ill and traumatised children in West Dorset, has given away more than 1000 in the past three years.

They have given away nearly 400 this year and only have 15 left – with 18 ready to be delivered for Christmas – and they are always looking for deserving causes.

West Dorset Project organiser Angela Hartle said: “We have delivered a total of 1093 quilts to the children of West Dorset in the last three years - a staggering number and all due to volunteers’ hard work.

“We continue to deliver to Dorset County Hospital, Kingfisher Ward and SCBU on a regular basis, and this year we have a new recipient – Waves, a Children's Society organisation based in Weymouth.

“To date they have received 111 quilts from us. We 'top up' Wyvern School when they have new children and continue to make quilts for their sensory room.

“Some of the topics for the sensory room are challenging – the last ones were plants and animals, relatively easy, the Romans, not so easy.”

Although the project is not a registered charity it has been confirmed that Project Linus (UK) is now a Community Interest Group.

This has a legal status but one that falls short of being a registered charity.

Angela said: “The change in status makes no difference to the way in which we work locally except that I now have to submit accounts to head office annually.”

Volunteers often use Pauline Bolt’s workrooms at Pauline's Patchwork in Dorchester.

Angela added: “We have never come away from a drop-in day with fewer than 20 quilts but the October day set a record – 46 quilts.”

The group also staged a successful quilt festival in Askerswell church and have been asked to do the another at Abbotsbury Church on July 12 and 13 next year.

Angela said: “We are always on the lookout for new recipients so anyone who hears of any organisation that may be interested, they should let us know.”

Mrs Hartle can be contacted at angela.hartle@hotmail.

co.uk or on 01305 753969.