WOOLLY jumpers will be warming Romanian children this winter thanks to a generous knitter from Weymouth.

The cosy clothes were donated to students from Wey Valley School who are preparing for a 12-day trip to help street children next month.

Susie Colenutt, of Lodge Way, Wyke Regis, heard about the fundraising appeal through the Echo and offered the clothes she had been knitting.

When the team agreed to take her creations in the minibus with them Mrs Colenutt got her needles working overtime on wool donated by friends to produce 15 jumpers, 20 hats and some scarves.

She started knitting for the children in Romania about four years ago when her niece was working in the 'dying ward' of an orphanage.

"She wrote me a little letter asking me to knit some jumpers for the little ones who were left with hardly anything to wear," Mrs Colenutt said.

"Ever since then I have just carried on knitting and have given the jumpers to whoever is travelling out there. It is something to do in the evening because there is not much on television these days. I can knit them almost without looking because I have done this pattern so many times, but my jumpers are all different."

Two of the 12 students heading to Romania during their half-term holiday, Lizzy Rains and Maddy Hursthouse, collected the knitted clothes from Mrs Colenutt and her friend Nora Harden, who knitted some hats.

They will also be taking £4,000 donated by the people of Weymouth and Portland to spend on the children.

Fundraising co-ordinator Julie Hursthouse said: "They are going to spend the money on sports equipment when they get there to support the local economy and save minibus space."

To support the students' fundraising efforts call Julie Hursthouse on 01305 815379.