Watford schoolgirls have knitted 60 blankets for a church group to give babies in Malawi to help them survive infancy.

A group from St Luke’s Church, Langley Way, attened a school assembly at Watford Grammar School for Girls to receive the gift.

The blankets have been made by the girls and staff of WGGS.

Each blanket is made up of 12 squares and was knitted by a member of the school.

Many girls - and some staff - have asked to be taught how to knit in order to contribute to the blanket appeal.

A lunchtime club has been formed, called Knit & Knatter, at which staff and girls meet to eat lunch, chat and knit.

One of the keenest knitters and knatterers is the Headmistress, Dame Helen Hyde, who is the inspiration behind the idea.

She said: "We are delighted that our first batch of 60 blankets is being taken by St Luke’s to help the children in Malawi.

"Our next donation will be for orphanages in Rwanda, and then we want to send some more blankets to Syrian refugees."

The Rwandan High Commissioner, Williams Nkurunziza, visited the school earlier this term to see the blankets in production.