A CRAFTY Stourport resident has raised more than £5,500 for a children's charity by selling handmade cards.

Lynne Beckett, 33, of The Grove, has been raising money for Acorns Children's Hospice in Worcester for three years.

She said she took up the hobby to fill her spare time. "It is something I have done for years," she explained.

"When I was at work I did it in my spare time and then, when I was off work ill, I wanted to do something to occupy my time. I decided to do it for charity and Acorns is a good local charity."

Mrs Beckett also set up a display of decoupage and parchment cards at Wilden Post Office a year ago, enabling her to raise £160 so far.

She said that in recent weeks she has struggled to keep up with the demand: "I never seem to be able to keep a full display, they are selling so fast."

Most of the materials Mrs Beckett uses to make the cards have been donated from people across Britain and abroad, including Germany, Australia and America.

She said: "I put adverts in craft magazines asking for supplies to be sent to me as it was for charity. It means 100 per cent of the money I raise goes to Acorns."

As well as the post office display, she has also sold cross-stitched and handcrafted items at craft fairs, fetes and nursery groups.

Last year she was presented with the award of Charity Cross Stitcher of the Year by the Quick and Easy magazine in London.

She was nominated for the prize by Acorns and was also chosen as the overall winner and named Stitcher of the Year.