FRENETIC knitter Betty Robb, from Halesowen, has chalked up an amazing tally of 3,000 hats to help poverty-striken people around the world and premature babies stay warm.

The 72-year-old former school teacher took up the challenge 20 years ago after taking early retirement and has sent her creations to countries as varied as Kenya, Bulgaria and Ethiopia.

Her knitting needles click away typically four to five hours a day, knocking out an average-sized woolly headgear in just three to four hours.

“I use a simple pattern which I made up myself and I like to knit while watching TV,” said Mrs Robb, of Firth Park Crescent, who is also a member of two knitting clubs at Quinton Methodist Church and Spring Meadow Baptists, Old Hill.

She relies heavily on donations of wool and is appealing for anyone with any spare to let her have it. Mrs Robb can be contacted on 0121 422 0707.