FOR the fourth year running, a Black Country mum is making and selling Easter bonnets to raise funds for a charity close to her heart.

Creative Kellie Bates from Lower Gornal spotted a gap in the market when she realised many busy parents and carers lacked the time or talent to create children’s bonnets so decided to put her craft skills to good use.

She now offers her services via a Facebook page, Kel’s Easter bonnets, with a percentage of profits being donated to the Williams Syndrome Foundation.

The charity has provided a lifeline to her family as her six-year-old son, Matthew, has the rare disorder, which is caused by an abnormality in chromosomes.

Kellie said: “The great thing about doing this is that I get to raise awareness about the Matthew’s condition too, so many people ask me about him.

“It means everything to me to be able to give something back to a charity that supports us so much. The knowledge they give us is invaluable and they also send us on days out with other families.”

Last year, Kellie was able to donate £451 to the charity through the sale of 337 bonnets but the 37-year-old, who is also mum to Chloe, aged seven and three-year-old Katie, hopes to raise even more this year.

She said: "I've got lots of designs, from traditional ones with bunnies to more wacky ones. Spiderman designs have been really popular this year.

“I’ve spoken to so many mums, dads and carers who say I have taken a weight off their shoulders - they’d either tried to make them themselves and they hadn’t turned out as they wanted or just didn’t know where to start.

"I love making them and it’s really heartwarming when I deliver them and see the relieved looks on their faces.”