FLORIST Julie Williams has taken it upon herself to bring a little festive happiness to dementia patients across Devon this Christmas.

Julie. who works at Hollyhocks Florist at Fermoy’s Garden Centre in Ipplepen, started knitting Twiddle Muffs.

The Twiddle Muffs have bright colours and patterns with zips, buttons, ribbons and other crafty items sewn onto them to keep the patients occupied and their hands busy.

The pieces of clothing will be donated to local hospitals and so far have been dished out to Royal Devon and Exeter and Mount Gourd.

‘The need for Twiddle Muffs was brought to my attention by my sister-in-law in Lichfield’, Jill said.

‘I had vaguely heard of them before but once I found out about the calming effects they can have on dementia patients, I just felt I had to put my knitting and creative skills to work to help these people, albeit in a small but effective way.’

Holly Williams, Jill’s daughter, said: ‘We are so proud of what mum is doing. It is such a selfless thing to do and mum always put people first.’

Anyone who has some crafty bits lying around that Jill can use for her creations is being asked to drop them off at the shop.