A WOMAN in her eighties with arthritis knitted almost 100 toys for a charity toy appeal.

Bea May, 88, provided the first major donation to Southend Council’s annual Toy Drive this year with a bumper stack of 94 knitted toys via her daughter Jill, who approached the authority about donating the toys because her mother did not know what to do with them.

The Benfleet octogenarian knits to help with the pain in her fingers caused by arthritis but members of the council’s Essential Living Fund Team found the toys to be of such high quality that they sold 54 of them at a Civic Centre sale, raising £580 for the fund and leaving 40 to be given to vulnerable children in the borough.

Jill said: “It’s absolutely wonderful that so much has been raised.

“Mum has always been creative and find knitting helps the pain of arthritis in her fingers.

“I can’t wait to tell her how much money has been raised, she will be thrilled.”

Also supporting the Toy Drive will be Southend United FC, which will have a ‘community corner’ in the car park next to the club shop at this Saturday’s game against Blackpool.

Deputy council leader Ian Gilbert said: “The response to the Toy Drive has been fantastic so far and the donation of the knitted toys really gave it a boost.

“I would still like to encourage as many people as possible to donate to such a worthy cause.”

Any donations can be brought to the ground floor reception at the Civic Centre or via Lorraine Goldsmith on 01702 534923 or lorrainegoldsmith@southend.gov.uk to arrange a pick-up.

The Toy Drive began on Monday and will run until Friday, December 18.