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A team of unassuming ladies have produced a poignant carpet of hand-crafted poppies to help raise funds for a charity.

The Knit and Natter group who meet every Tuesday have completed more than 150 knitted poppies and five distinctive wreaths.

These will be sold to support the FirstLight Trust at their Lancaster cafe hub in Market Street and their other regional hubs.

James Cook, the National Hub Coordinator for FirstLight Trust, collected the poppies and wreaths with Lara McDonnell from the Trust’s Lancaster hub.

Poppy pride: The proud knitters show off their handiwork to Lara McDonnell, centre back row, from FirstLight Trust. Picture: Ken Bennett

He said: “We really appreciate the effort and time the knitting group have put in creating those lovely poppies and wreaths. It’s an amazing donation.

“They caused a stir back at the hub – we could have sold a handful of wreaths as soon as we returned.”

Mr Cook said FirstLight Trust works to provide a safe route back to independence for those who have left the armed forces and emergency services.

FirstLight delivers this by individual introduction to their services through five regional community hubs.

Wreathed in pride: The knitters pictured with FirstLight Trust’s Lara McDonnell, centre back row. Picture by Ken Bennett.

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He added: “The hubs offer a safe space where individuals in need can get to know our staff in a safe environment and as trust is developed, gradually obtain more personalised, in-depth support that will help them to recover and empower them to live a life of purpose once more.

“We can only continue this work with the support of the local community that we work within, and the time and dedication of our supporters and hub teams.

“We are extremely grateful to the Knott End knitting group who have created over 100 beautiful poppies which we will sell out of hubs.

A specially crafted wreath. Picture by Ken Bennett.

“All money raised through this incredibly kind donation will go directly to supporting veterans in the local community where they are sold.”

Anne Ingham, from the Knit and Natter group who meet at Knott End Library, said: “We like to support charities but as a group, we support each other and are always there for each other, through good and bad.

“We like to help the local community and have made premature baby clothes and blankets which have been donated to local hospitals.

“We’ve also done poppies for the British Legion and forget-me-nots and twiddle muffs for people with dementia, and hats and scarves for fishermen.”

Contact FirstLight Trust at www.firstlighttrust.co.uk

Knitting group creates over 150 poppies for FirstLight Trust veterans charity in Lancaster