A THURROCK woman and her friends and local community have united to stitch together a very special project to support NHS staff at Basildon & Thurrock Hospital.

Carol Benham, a semi-retired curtain maker from Bradleigh Avenue in Grays first got the idea when she saw an appeal for people with sewing skills to make scrubs for Queens Hospital in Romford. She contacted Basildon Hospital to see if they needed them.

After getting a positive response she set about assembling the team to make it happen. Carol started calling around for donations to buy the special cotton fabric and recruited fellow stitchers to put the gowns together.

She says: "I got a donation from Henry De Grey Masonic Lodge and Comprehensive Carpentry Limited then it went on social media and lots of neighbours chipped in.

"All the ladies worked very hard to achieve a professional standard and we had a lot of laughs along the way."

Carol recruited 15 friends, all women aged 60 to 80, who cut, stitched and finished the outfits with husband Michael doing logistics. At the same time, she collected five boxes of toiletries for patient admission packs at the hospital and Thurrock Women's Refuge.

Rachel Webster of Basildon Hospital Patient Advice and Liaison Service said: "The scrubs were greatly welcomed by staff who were working long shifts wearing full PPE in difficult conditions. I am in awe of what the community has provided to the hospital during the crisis."

Carol raised £2,900 in donations and spent £700 on materials. The remaining money is being donated to the hospital where it will go towards the establishment of a sensory garden.