A knitting group has made a pledge to help vision impaired children by knitting fluorescent mittens and socks.

The Maldon based knitting group are helping Jane Watson produce items of clothes that she can give to children with vision problems.

Ms Watson works for the specialist teacher team at Essex County Council education services.

Her job sees her teach and work with children with vision impairment.

She explained how the bright clothing could help the youngsters.

She said: “The fluorescent colours can stimulate their vision and help them notice their hands and feet, potentially for the first time.

“Children with reduced vision need bright colours in order for them to see things and notice them.

“Hands and feet are quite pale, so it is hard for the visually impaired children to see them. They may not be aware that they are even a part of their body.”

The idea of the fluorescent mittens and socks came to Ms Watson, after she saw some of the other work the knitting group had been doing.

She added: “They had been making sensory sleeves for a while, for people who are suffering with dementia.

“They’re sleeves that have lots of different textures and colours on them. I saw them and realised that a similar idea would be really useful to help the children that I work with.”

The mittens and socks that are knitted will be given to vision impaired children across Mid Essex.

“It is quite hard to find knitting groups nowadays,” said Ms Watson.

“I am absolutely made up that this group are willing to help us like this.

“Knitting is quite a lost skill, and trying to find a group willing was quite challenging, so it is lovely that they have agreed to do this.”

Fluorescent wool for donations can be dropped off at the hospital cafe in Spital Road, Maldon.