A DETERMINED group of volunteers have been knitting up a storm to raise money for a Wirral children's hospice this Easter.

Committed fundraisers from Thornton Hough Women's Badminton Club have spent their free time knitting Easter chicks for a number of years which they then sell for £1.50 each.

All proceeds from the chicks - which contain a Cadbury's Cream Egg - go to Claire House Children's Hospice.

The money is raised in memory of Elliot Wild, from Bebington, who died in 2011 after a brave battle with leukaemia.

Having started small - raising £85 in the first year - the group has gone on to raise a staggering £10,000 over the past six years to help support children and young adults with terminal illnesses.

The idea came after Norma Gilroy, from Spital, helped her friend who was selling something similar in aid of a breast cancer charity.

Having seen how popular they were, Norma started to knit her own chicks for the Bebington Hospice each Easter and was soon joined by her friends at Thornton Hough who helped her fundraising go from strength to strength.

Norma said: “I wanted to do something for Claire House because it is so close to home and helps so many children from our area and beyond.

"Elliot was a pupil at the school where my daughter teaches and in his honour, our chicks have become known as the ‘Wild’ chicks."

“Elliot’s mum, Jackie, has been really supportive of what we are doing as have many others such as Higher Bebington Junior School and numerous local businesses who have generously donated eggs, matched our fundraising and ordered chicks each year.

"It has been a real team effort and the ladies who help me have been instrumental in helping to boost our fundraising. My husband and I now volunteer for Claire House and they are always so grateful for the support. I have visited the hospice and seen for myself the difference that it makes to people and that makes our hard work all worthwhile.”

This year, the ladies have added Liverpool and Everton chicks to their collection and have already sold more than 1,200. The ‘Wild’ chicks are available to buy from reception at the Claire House Fundraising Offices or Barclays Bank in Bromborough.