A DEDICATED mother who creates homemade blankets for bereaved parents has been “inundated” after appealing for a helping hand.

A DEDICATED mother who creates homemade blankets for bereaved parents has been “inundated” after appealing for a helping hand.

Midge Elliott sews the little quilts for mothers who have lost their babies during birth or for a premature baby which has not survived. Each creation called a Blanket of Love has a small butterfly sewn on to it to signify the short life span of the baby and parents are able to take it home when their baby is taken away.

Mrs Elliott, 64, appealed for help through the Times last year after struggling to supply enough blankets for the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in King's Lynn and the West Suffolk Hospital in Bury St Edmunds.

Now, she said, she has enough willing helpers to take the strain and make more than enough to keep the two hospitals going.

“I didn't realise it would go all over Norfolk and I was inundated,” said Mrs Elliott a retired housewife who has two children Scott, 34, and Rebecca, 32, and lives in Riverside Way, Brandon.

“I've been so blessed and met some lovely people. I've got 30 ladies on my books and a lot of those are part of other groups who are also making the quilts.”

She added: “I have a lot of travelling to do to see my ladies now. Because the quilt groups are making such huge numbers I can now supply the hospitals for a year.”

The blankets come in all different sizes and are all quilted in soft colours. They also come with a card explaining why Mrs Elliott makes them.

Mrs Elliott said: “We're always criticising and saying people don't do enough and don't care and I would like to say that there are so many people out there who do care.

“I would just like to say thank you to everybody who has helped.”

To find out more or to offer help contact Midge Elliott on 01842 813679 or e-mail shelliott@poptart.org