A group of up to 17 pupils at the Brandon Road school have joined a Wednesday lunchtime knitting club that is producing scarves and knitted blankets for children in eastern Europe, the former Soviet Union and Africa.

The school has been collecting shoeboxes filled with gifts for Operation Christmas Child, run by international Christian relief organisation Samaritan's Purse, for the past two years.

Last October, it decided to add home-made knitted scarves to the boxes by teaching the children to knit in the Wednesday lunchtime club – and last year about 35 scarves were sent.

Teaching assistants Ms Rosie Holmes and Jackie Palmer run the knitting club, with occasional help from Mrs Heather Bangay who used to be school secretary until her retirement.

Mrs Palmer said: "There are a couple of boys in the club, thoroughly enjoying it along with the girls. The aim for this year is to make one scarf for each box that we send from the school for Operation Christmas Child. We are also making blankets from knitted squares put together."

She added: "If anyone would like to send any scarves they have made themselves into our school, we would be very grateful. We are collecting from September and the intention is to have our boxes ready to go by the end of November.

"It would be nice to add a present that would last a long time and it would be something soft and cosy that would help keep the children warm."