Community award for sewing friends

Margaret Bowen and Gwen Royall have made more than 100 blankets

Two friends who got together to sew sensory blankets have been recognised with Community Champion awards.

Margaret Bowen, 87, and Gwen Royall, 78, both from Sutton Hill in Telford make the blankets for people with dementia and special needs.

Mrs Royall said they started off by creating a sensory blanket for a young man with special educational needs who attended their church.

In one year they have created 101 blankets and 965 individual squares.

The blankets include pockets, zips and crinkly paper, and the pair received a small grant from the Mayor of Madeley to buy materials.

The friends said the award was a surprise and Mrs Bowen added: "It is nice to be recognised for something we love doing. We were happy to do it quietly."

They were nominated for the award by their local councillor, Helena Morgan, who told them: "This is our way of saying thank you."

This news was gathered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service which covers councils and other public service organisations.