A 99-year-old widow has knitted 400 woolly bonnets for premature babies born in Oxford.

Helen Sherman took two years to reach the milestone.

And the feat was made all the more impressive considering she was forced to abandon her home for nine months following last year's flooding.

Mrs Sherman, from Grove, said her lifelong passion for knitting had been a great comfort during her forced evacuation.

Mrs Sherman — a widow for almost 50 years — heard about the need for babies' hats at Oxford's John Radcliffe Hospital through her hairdresser.

She said: "My hairdresser brought over a hat and I couldn't believe it would fit a baby's head. I said it would only fit a teacup. I have 14 for her to collect when she next comes — it's nice to think they are used."