St Albans MP Daisy Cooper is supporting an appeal for new members to join a local sewing group which has made hundreds of cushions and quilts for hospital patients, refugees and women fleeing domestic violence.

Mead Quilters in Wheathampstead are a group of sewing enthusiasts who have been meeting for more than 30 years.

Their quilts, which record events in local history such as the Covid pandemic, have been displayed at national shows.

But this month they've been sewing cushions for breast cancer patients at St Albans City Hospital and Welwyn Garden City's QEII Hospital - and they've broken their own record, creating more than 200 cushions already.

They have put out an appeal for new members to help with their next charity projects - and to find friendship and a warm welcome at the group.

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St Albans’ Liberal Democrat MP Daisy Cooper has added her voice to the appeal. "It was wonderful to see the Mead Quilters at work creating beautiful gifts for women in and around St Albans, sometimes in their time of real need.

"There's real love and care in these cushions and quilts, and they will brighten up the days of people who really need it.

"It's even more impressive that they're creating these quilts and cushions from scraps of fabric that might otherwise be thrown away.

"But they need new members and donations of spare fabric- so if you can sew, do drop them a line!"

The Quilters also rely on donations of fabric for their cushions and quilts, and would urge anyone with unwanted material to get in touch.

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Their work for local hospitals has been inspired by members of the group who have themselves received treatment for breast cancer.

Other members are NHS nurses who know the difference the gifts make to patients. And this is not the only charity project the group has taken on.

They also make small quilts for premature babies at Watford Hospital's Maternity Unit, as well as quilts for women and children at St Albans Women's Refuge. They've also donated quilts to the group Herts Welcomes Refugees.

If you can donate fabric, or if you would like to join the Mead Quilters, you can contact them via their website at https://meadquilters.org.uk.