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A grandmother who crocheted 230 teddies has raised more than £1,000 for charity.

Originally, 65-year-old Rosemarie McDuff, from Abertysswg, crocheted nine teddies – with the aim of selling them to raise funds for the Wales Air Ambulance Charity.

After advertising the teddies on social media, she became inundated with orders – receiving 96 within the first hour.

With demand high, Rosemarie spent six months of lockdown making more teddies in her garden, with her seven-year-old granddaughter Abigail by her side.

In total, Rosemarie raised £1,150 for the charity.

She said: “We were lucky in lockdown. I spent a lot of time in the garden with my granddaughter.

“I was doing different batches of the bears and then I would put them together. They were fiddly, but we got there in the end.

“I am proud of how many we made, and my granddaughter is so proud as well. It was for a good cause.”

Neighbours donated balls of wool to Rosemarie as she was unable to go to the shops to buy some herself, while her friend, Paula Williams, made the pinnies and masks for the teddies.

The teddies proved a hit, with people buying and collecting the handmade toys from as far away as Llanelli.

Wendy McManus, who is the charity’s community fundraiser for south-east Wales, said: “A huge thank you to Rosemarie who spent months making the teddies for the Wales Air Ambulance.

“Thank you to everyone who helped Rosemarie, especially Abigail, who was with her grandmother every step of the way. You’re all helping save lives across Wales.”

For more information about the Wales Air Ambulance or to make a donation, visit walesairambulance.com.