ORPHANS on the other side of Europe are feeling the warmth from a knitting group in Dorchester.

A group of 12 ladies from Churchill Retirement Living's Barnes Lodge have been busy knitting blankets for orphans in Romania.

The women have formed a fortnightly Knit and Natter Group, meeting in their communal lounge to chat and knit much-needed woolly supplies on behalf of local charity Heart Response.

Joyce Brett from the group said: “We formed our Knit and Natter Group a few months ago and it is such fun spending an afternoon doing something useful for others as well as catching up with all of the ladies.

"Knitting squares for the blankets doesn’t involve watching a pattern so we can chat, laugh, relax and even put the world to rights at the same time.”

Fellow member Jeanne Bourne added: “I love going down to the owners’ lounge on a Wednesday for the Knit and Natter afternoon, especially making new friends.

"It is a great way to meet new people at the Lodge and spend the afternoon socialising, whilst doing something for such a good cause.”

Lodge manager Abi Scard said: “The ladies at Barnes Lodge find it so rewarding to come together and knit.

"Romania has the highest number of orphans in Europe so they’re very happy to be doing something positive to help these young children.

"It’s wonderful to have everyone working together for a worthwhile cause, which proves what a fabulous, happy Lodge we have here.”

Dorchester-based Heart Response helps orphans and widows in Romania who have little or no money by providing funds for various projects including supporting food programmes and a pregnancy crisis centre, as well as supplying clothes, shoes, toys and stationary.

Each of the handmade blankets will be sent to children’s orphanages in Ocna Mure?, a small town in the north of the country.