Active Communities has been delighted to team up with a Johnstone after-school group to bring some warmth to older adults.

Johnstone Out of School Service, based in Auchenlodment Primary School, has kept its children, parents, grandparents, staff and other volunteers busy with knitting needles over the past few months to create colourful woollen squares.

Each square was then stitched together to make 12 beautiful blankets. Now, they've donated the blankets to us at Active Communities and we plan to give them out to people who come along to our Community Pantry every week.

Elaine Sparkes from Johnstone Out of School Service said: "I came up with the idea during the winter, I thought it would be a nice thing to do for the elderly in Johnstone.

"We had children knitting as well as staff and parents. It was an incredible effort knitting all the squares.

"We knitted about 700 squares altogether. We've stitched all the squares together and made 12 blankets in total.

"They're big enough to go over people's laps or around their shoulders so I hope it will bring people some comfort."

Liz Devaney, volunteer co-ordinator for Active Communities, said: "We were delighted to help Johnstone Out of School Service distribute their beautiful, handmade blankets.

"People are still trying to cut down on their heating bills and what better way to help than with a cosy woollen blanket?

"Our Community Pantry is busy every week and we know the people who come along will be delighted to receive one of the blankets as an added extra.

"Thank you to everyone at Johnstone Out of School Service for working so hard to create the blankets and for donating them to us."