YOUNGSTERS are knitting a blanket to send out to vulnerable children at risk in the aftermath of Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines.

The 28 Year 6 pupils from Northern Primary School have been taught how to knit woollen squares by Marrian Tattersall, a 71-year-old volunteer for International Aid.

However four left-handed students struggled to pick up the traditional skill, and after wracking her brains as to how those children could still be involved, Mrs Tattersall, from Bacup, came up with the idea that they could stitch the patches together to form the blanket.

Mrs Tattersall said the project with the school came about when she was in need of wool for her charity work and asked the children if they could bring any in their mums might have had spare.

She said: “And then I was asked if I could teach the children to knit, because they didn’t know how and it would be a good skill for them, and I thought it was a brilliant idea. But I thought it would be good if they had a focus for their knitting, and suggested we make a blanket for the charity I volunteer for.

“The only problem we have is not having enough wool.”

Mrs Tattersall, who has herself knitted 700 children’s jumpers that have been sent to the developing world, originally began knitting items for Oxfam in 2004.

She said: “But then I found out they were selling the blankets at pop festivals, so I left. I wanted to be sure that my work would go directly to people in need, which is why I joined International Aid.”

Jane Simpson, headteacher at the school, said: “It’s amazing how the children have taken to it, both the boys and the girls.

“As a school, we aim to broaden our understanding of people in different situations from ourselves, and this project is a great way of doing that while picking up a traditional skill.”

To donate wool for the project, drop it off at the school, or email Marrian via wmrrsal@yahoo.co.uk.