AS AUSTRALIA burns and the world watches on horrified, two women are taking action to protect the native species from harm.

Katerina Murphy, from Longtown, and her mum Hellen Brisbane, who is visiting from Australia, have been watching the scenes emerging from their homeland with horror.

They have decided to put their crafting skills to work to create pouches and slings for koalas, kangaroos, bats, and other animals that are suffering due to the uncontrollable bushfires.

Hellen, 64, said: “I was making items by hand for the wildlife in Australia before I left, and then the bushfires escalated by the time I got here.

“I realised that I could give money, but really I’m very good at sewing, and I can knit and crochet. I really wanted to do more.”

Katerina, 34, added: “It’s bringing more attention and awareness to it, everybody has just banded together. Whole communities, far and wide.”

Katerina put a post in a Facebook group calling on people to donate fabric or even to get involved.

The post blew up and was shared more than 800 times spreading to the Isle of Man, Manchester, Lincolnshire, and Newport.

People are in awe of Katerina’s act of kindness, that will make a difference to the efforts of wildlife protection teams across Australia.

Hellen said: “We just put the word out asking people if they have second-hand fabric or used sheets that we could use, and it snowballed from there.”

Katerina added: “It’s been amazing, everybody just wants to help - giving clothes or fabric or asking for places that they can donate to.

“Everyone is just so shocked at seeing the animals, they have just been fantastic, it is so heartwarming to have such support.”

It is estimated that potentially millions of animals have died or are suffering.

The fires are so ferocious that people can’t get in to rescue the animals, they can only go in once the flames have died down.

Hellen said: “It’s not even really our fire season in Australia so it is absolutely devastating.

“We have got at least two more months of what you would consider the bad fire season.”

The items that they are making will bring comfort and protection to some of Australia’s wildlife.

They have designs set aside for large hanging pouches for baby kangaroos and various sizes of pouches for possums and other marsupials.

Hellen said: “We’re encouraging people to make knitted blankets, crocheted blankets, so little tiny creatures can go into nests, baby birds can go into nests.”

Katerina added: “We have all the patterns if anyone wants to get in contact, we can certainly get the patterns out.”

They plan to get the items to Australia by asking people to take some in their suitcases or for businesses to send them in bulk.

The pair are passionate about protecting the animals of their homeland.

Hellen said: “It almost makes us want to go home early, because you feel so helpless here.”

Fabric and ready-made pouches and slings can be dropped off at the Rectory in Longtown.