Twiddle muffs and teddy bears are helping those with dementia and their carers.

The Maryport group Reflections has been making the twiddle muffs for residents of local rest homes and teddy bears for the Police.

Reflections was started by Anglican vicar the Rev Susan McKendrey and lay reader Linda Radcliffe.

It was originally intended to support people living with dementia and carers.

But Mrs McKendrey said it has expanded: “We have now got people coming in who are perhaps just lonely, have been bereaved or enjoy crafts and a chat.”

Mrs Radcliffe added: “We never ask who is living with dementia. Everyone is just accepted as they are.”

Recently the group has been making twiddle muffs .

These are knitted muffs but with items sewn on and in them such as buttons, fluff, fur and so on that make them tactile.

More than 100 of these muffs have been delivered to care homes and to the Maryport hospital in the past few weeks.

“They are designed to stop the elderly and people with dementia from scratching their hands and face as they sometimes do. These muffs give them something to feel and to fiddle with,” Mrs Radcliffe said.

Reflections has now begun another project making Bobbies for the Bobbies.

The Bobbies are knitted teddy bears which Police officer can take with them to incidents where there may be small children. The knitted Bobbies will be given out to the children as comfort toys.

Reflections meets at St Mary’s Church on Netherhall corner on the first and third Mondays of each month between 2pm and 4pm.