A Biggleswade knitting fanatic is encouraging others to get involved in a Bedfordshire Police project to produce teddies for children who are impacted by crime.

Prisha Hill took to Facebook and approached the Buttons Haberdashery in High Street to advertise the new Bobby Buddies scheme and recruit fellow knitters.

The Beds Police Signpost Hub – which provides support for crime victims in the county – has set up the scheme which invites community groups and knitting enthusiasts to get involved in creating the bobby buddies.

The teddies will be used by officers and victim care co-ordinators at the hub when they speak to children.

Prisha told the Comet: “So far I’ve had more than 30 knitters and crocheters contact me for the pattern.

“I’m absolutely astounded by the number of people who have requested the pattern and donated yarn so far.

“I had hoped people would get on board, but I didn’t quite expect this level of generosity.”

For those who don’t knit, Prisha asked Buttons if customers could donate yarn. Once paid for, the yarn is stored in a box ready for knitters to collect.

VCC Zoe Davis, who is leading the project, said: “The teddies will be a great support for children who have experienced the trauma of crime.

“They can be used as a communication aid, to comfort and reassure, as well as a gesture to show the child there are also good people in our community.

“We can even tell them the first name of the person who knitted the bear.”

PC Conroy introduced that scheme with Dorset Police, and is allowing Bedfordshire to use their Bobby Buddy template created by his mother.

Assistant chief constable Jackie Sebire said: “We are fully supporting the scheme, which is a great way of assisting young people at a difficult time.

“The Bobby Buddies will help them to realise that officers are approachable, are there to help them and are not someone to be scared of.

“They will also be a great way for officers and VCCs to build relationships and can be really useful in distracting the young person from what is going on around them during a stressful situation.”

Any individual, group or organisation looking to get involved should contact Zoe Davis at zoe.davis@bedfordshire.pnn.police.uk or call 0800 0282 887.