A GRANDMOTHER from Oxford has notched up a quarter of a century of knitting for charity, stitching together thousands of pounds for good causes along the way.

Jean Beaver's purl stitches and cross stitches have seen her colourful creations of stuffed elephants and finger puppets shipped as far afield as Romania, Morocco and Japan, for different charities.

Her years of needlecraft for the needy have seen her make a host of different designs - from kitten cushions, pandas and rabbits, to bonnets for premature babies and even bed socks.

Busy Mrs Beaver even knitted through the pain barrier after twice being diagnosed with carpal tunnel syndrome.

And her passion means she even knits while travelling.

The 70-year-old, from Hazel Road, Botley, said: "I have knitted pretty much everything now. There's nothing I think I couldn't knit.

"When I was diagnosed with carpal tunnel syndrome I just carried on.

"It was an awful job to get my hands back to life again, but I would just shake them every two or three rows to get them going."

"I had to stop briefly when I broke my wrist 18 months ago.

"I did try knitting with the plaster on, but it didn't work.

"I just had to knit quicker when it came off to make up for lost time."

She added: "If I'm sat down I always do my knitting. It saves me biting my nails - and I don't like wasting time.

"I often knit in the car, and if there's something I need to finish I'll take it on the bus with me."

Mrs Beaver, a former special needs helper at Botley Primary School, started out making fingerless gloves for her daughter 25 years ago.

They became so popular that she and her husband Ted, 72, have had stalls selling knitwear outside the West Way shopping centre, earning them the nickname 'the glove couple'.

The pensioner, who receives donations of wool, estimates she spends about two hours each evening knitting. She adds the finishing touches by sowing up the stuffed toys.

Mrs Beaver has so raised about £1,800 for Helen House hospice and also knits for Save the Children, Cancer Research and Parkinson's Disease charities.

She says she enjoys her hobby while watching wildlife programmes and especially murder mysteries.

She said: "When there's an exciting programme on television I start to knit quicker.

"As the drama builds up I just start to knit more quickly.

"Poirot really gets the needles clacking."

Mrs Beaver, who has no plans to give up her hobby, added: "I never run out of wool and, as long as my hands work, then I will keep going."

Lin Beekar, head of fundraising at Helen House, said: "It's wonderful that Jean has raised so much.

"We hope she keeps on with her knitting for many years."