FOR parents of very premature babies, finding clothes small enough to fit their new arrival is probably the last thing on their mind.

So, in 2007, an army of kind-hearted ladies set about helping out.

After hearing of the plight of hundreds of new parents at the John Radcliffe Special Care Baby Unit, a group of nimble-fingered knitters from the Wantage Day Centre set to work.

What started as a one-off donation of a few tiny caps, booties, and blankets, has grown to sackfuls of thousands of brightly coloured baby items – each smaller than can be found in regular shops.

Grandmother-of-four Margaret Fell, from Grove, began coordinating delivery of the items in 2007.

She has since taken charge of the kindly force of women from across the county, and beyond, who spend all year creating minute clothes for the tiny miracles.

She said: “I found out about the need for these clothes when my mother Sadie Webb began to knit them at the Wantage Day Centre “I wanted to help too, but couldn’t knit.

“It feels wonderful to be able to help out by organising the delivery. What started out as about 10 small hats and booties, has really grown.

“Now we have thousands of items. We have knitters of all levels.

“One of our members has just finished her one and only blanket, after six years!

“Many of the women have had children of their own who have needed to use the special care baby unit, and this is their way of helping out.

“Most of the parents will not have expected a baby so early, or so small.

“This is just a small way of helping and it feels lovely to be able to help.”

The women, who come from as far away as South Africa, spend their own time knitting the intricate clothes using donated wool.

The blankets which the women knit are used to shield babies’ eyes from the bright hospital lights.

Because of stringent hospital safety and hygiene rules, the items have to be repeatedly steamed to make sure they are completely clean before and after every use, and have to be thrown away after around 10 uses.

Mrs Fell, 65, said the group, which has lost five members this year, is also constantly on the look out for new knitters.

She said: “There is always a demand for new items as they do not last very long.

“Sadly three of our members have died, and two now have very bad arthritis, so we always want to hear from new people.

“It really is very rewarding.

“It feels lovely to know that when the babies are ready to leave hospital they are wrapped up warm in the clothes we have donated.”

Divisional nurse Nettie Dearmun, who works with premature babies and their parents, took the delivery of 2,400 items from Mrs Fell last week.

She said: “It was great to receive the latest batch of knitted clothes and blankets, and to meet the ladies who put so much time and effort into this fantastic work.

“The clothes we receive are incredibly valuable for new parents of premature babies, as they are not usually expecting their babies to arrive at that time.

“We try to create a therapeutic environment on the ward, so the blankets which shield them from the lights, and the hats which help keep the baby’s heads warm, are particularly useful.”

awilliams@oxfordmail.co.uk