A GROUP of pensioners in Wallingford have been knitting teddy bears for children in poverty around the globe.

The Krafty Knitters group, led by Joan Oscroft from Shillingford, meet every week at the town's Methodist church as part of a project for the Inner Wheel Club of Sinodun.

Members of the group gathered at the church in St Leonard's Square with 161 teds knitted for the School in a Bag project.

New backpacks are filled with essential resources to help a child to write, draw and learn – and a cuddly teddy in each.

Inner Wheel clubs around the country have been taking part in the project and so far 55,000 school bags have been distributed to children in 26 countries.

Following a meeting of the group last month Mrs Oscroft said: "Members of Inner Wheel decided it would be a good idea to send teddy bears to these children, many of whom will never have had a toy.

"This is where the Krafy Knitters come into the story, with their magnificent contribution of so many beautifully knitted Teddy Bears.

"Members of Sinodun Inner Wheel are so grateful to the ladies involved and their efforts will be appreciated all over the world."

The School in a Bag project was established in memory of Piers Simon, who was drowned in the Thailand Tsunami.

The Piers Simon Appeal was set up in memory of the 33-year-old, who died in the Indian Ocean Tsunami on the island of Koh Phi Phi in Thailand on December 26, 2004.

Each school bags costs £15 and more information can be found on the website schoolinabag.org