LEYLAND super-gran Linda Miller knitted 420 snowmen in 2020, to support the children’s hospice Derian House.

The 73-year-old carried on knitting despite having to spend time in hospital last year to recover from two heart attacks.

Linda, who has impaired vision but has been been knitting snowmen for the hospice for six years, raised a bumper £635 during the pandemic.

“We’ve been inundated!” said Linda. “I’ve sold all 420 snowmen I made this year and lots of people were saying ‘take a fiver and keep the change’ because they knew it was for Derian House.

“I usually sell the snowmen on a stall in the local supermarket but this year we couldn’t because of COVID and so my husband Jim decided to go online and sales went mad!”

“I’ve been in hospital and not been well this year but I just keep going,” she added.

“It’s my way of supporting local children.

“I know this year has been hard work for a lot of families and this is my way of doing my bit.

“In a lot of ways knitting keeps me going and it’s also helping my favourite charity.

“This year I’ve had the help of Ribbleton Infant School in Preston, Eclipse Hair and Beauty in Euxton, Alison Carroll at the Folly café in Worden Park, Leyland and also friends and family.”

Caroline Taylor, Communications and Marketing Manager, said: “Linda is one of our most loyal fundraisers at Derian House and we absolutely adore her! She has not only raised a significant amount of money for Derian House over the years but she always flies the flag for Derian House and raises awareness of our work. Linda was one of the original fundraisers who raised money to buy the land the hospice was built on 27 years ago and she is still helping us out now – she is so dedicated and has helped so many families over the years with her fundraising. We can’t thank her enough.”