A grandmother who knits more than 2,000 woollen chicks each year to cover Easter eggs has been lauded by the school where she has worked for almost 30 years.

Sally Jarman, who lives in Hitchin, will reach her third decade of service as assistant housekeeper at St Francis’ College in Letchworth in November, and it seems that much of her time has been spent knitting away for worthy causes.

The Easter period is Sally’s busiest time of year, with her nifty needlework going to schools and charities such as Keech Hospice Care and the Garden House Hospice – for whom she has raised thousands of pounds.

Sally, pictured right, is the driving force behind the project, but she says that her three friends – Shirley Payne, Ann Gatward and Joy Vasey – give her welcome support.

Headteacher Brownen Goulding said: “We are very proud of our unsung member of staff, Sally.

“Many locals will know her knitted chicks that cover a crème egg, and many that buy the chicks to support the charities believe they’re created by an army of knitting grandmas.

“However, these are hand crafted and designed by our very own Sally.

“Sally has been making these chicks for more than 14 years so we estimate she has knitted more than 30,000 chicks.

“She knits on average five chicks per day and our boarders at St. Francis’ College get to know these little chicks very well throughout the year.

“We think her hard work and dedication deserves some recognition.”