TEMPERATURES in Afghanistan can drop to -8C during the harsh winter nights and soldiers need to keep themselves warm.

And to help them do exactly that, members of the Ruddington Women's Institute have had their knitting needles out.

Since October, they have made 60 woolly hats and sent them out for the troops to wear under their helmets.

They have also made 20 knee blankets for soldiers at the Defence Medical Rehabilitation Centre (DMRC) in Headley Court, Surrey, who are recovering from having limbs amputated.

Now the women are appealing for donations of wool and fabric to help them continue with their work.

Evelyn Bedford, from Ruddington WI, said: "Apparently the hats the Ministry of Defence issue the soldiers don't fit under their helmet. Our ones fit the job.

"But the soldiers take them home when they leave Afghanistan so we are going to have to keep knitting them."

Mrs Bedford said their branch was invited to help an ongoing project that has been running in Notts for around two years.

The hats are sent out from Chetwynd Barracks in Chilwell to the troops in Afghanistan.

Mrs Bedford said a Major from Headley Court had written a letter of thanks saying that when the blankets arrived, the soldiers had snapped them all up within 15 minutes.

In the letter he said: "The selfless generosity of the general public never ceases to amaze me.

"Little things like receiving a hand-made quilt put a smile on their faces and make them forget their problems."

Members of the Ruddington WI meet on the first and third Thursday of each month and use some of the time to either knit or make blankets.

They also use their own free time.

When another large batch of hats and blankets are made they will be sent off.

Mrs Bedford said: "It's been wonderful and has really taken off.

"We feel as though we are doing our little bit for the soldiers."

The women need donations of chunky and double knitting wool to enable them to keep knitting their hats and blankets.

Pieces of suitable fabric – of a metre square or more – which can be stitched and lined to make knee rugs would also be greatly appreciated.

Leave donations at St Peter's Rooms, in Ruddington, or call Mrs Bedford on 0115 921 2423.

tanya.holden@nottinghameveningpost.co.uk