A KNITTER from Bridgwater has taken up an unusual hobby to help women who have had breasts removed due to cancer.

Kay Coombes, of Broadoak Road, spends her free time knitting and crocheting cotton breasts as part of the Knitted Knockers project for women who have undergone a mastectomy.

Kay, 45, discovered the project following a double mastectomy after she was diagnosed with breast cancer around two years ago.

She said: “In five months I’d had three operations and I couldn’t work while I recovered.

“I was bored just sitting around and I discovered the group online.

“I ordered a pair and was so impressed I decided to give making them a try, to help other women.

“I’ve been knitting them since January and I’ve provided knitted knockers to 19 women so far.

“The silicone ones you get from the NHS are uncomfortable but the knitted ones are lighter and because they are cotton they are soft and do not cause you to sweat.”

The knitted knockers are free, as the volunteers who make them buy the materials and pay for the postage.

There are around 200 volunteers involved in the project across the UK and Kay believes she is the only one in Somerset.

Kay added: “We don’t do it for money – it’s simply a gift from one woman to another.”

To get involved visit knittedknockersuk.wix.com/knitted-knockers-uk or find the group on Facebook, ‘knitted knockers UK information page’.