'Waddle of Worcester' organisers were brought to tears after discovering a heart-warming note inside a bag of 100 donated knitted penguins.

The Waddle has been urging residents to make penguins and penguin-themed items themselves for its pop-up shop in the city, with organisers finding the tearjerking note as they sorted through them.

The letter writer was later revealed as Sue Hencher, who lost her husband Vaughan unexpectedly, in September.

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Sara Matthews, business development manager for St Richard’s Hospice, said: "We’ve been blown away by the community’s kindness in knitting penguins.

"Except this particular bag contained a thank you note to us for giving the maker an ‘unexpected gift’ of focus and distraction during the first lonely months without their husband.

“The author paid tribute to the care her husband had received from St Richard’s and for ensuring he had precious extra time with his family.”

The team was moved by the message and set out to meet Mrs Hencher.

She gave a first-hand account of how the penguin initiative helped her deal with her husband's loss.

Mrs Hencher, from Worcester, said: "When I lost him more suddenly than expected in September it took me a while to start knitting, but it soon became so much more to me.

"I started putting them into his empty armchair and when I was asked by my granddaughter if I was going to fill his chair with penguins I readily accepted the challenge."

She added: "In fact, I have gone much further than that and created 100 penguins but I am keeping a few in his chair as it would look so empty without them.”

The 100 penguins are part of around 1,500 donated to the hospice.

The hospice is accepting contributions until Sunday, September 15.

Mrs Matthews added: "We’d welcome donations right up until the trail ends on 15 September as we know they’ll still be popular at our Farewell Events in October."

The parade continues until the same date, and features 80 penguin sculptures around the city in a free, open-air trail.

After the trail ends, the sculptures are auctioned to raise money for the hospice.