A HAMPSHIRE schoolgirl has dedicated her spare time to helping the homeless by making blankets out of an unexpected everyday item.

Teya Bye, seven, from Warsash has been collecting empty crisp packets to transform them into blankets for the homeless men and women in Gosport and Fareham.

The Year 2 pupil at Hook-with-Warsach School got the idea before Christmas after she saw a Facebook post explaining how to turn the empty packets into a blanket.

Teya Bye, seven, from Warsach has been collecting empty crisp packets to transform them into blankets for the homeless men and women in Gosport and Fareham

Teya Bye, seven, from Warsach has been collecting empty crisp packets to transform them into blankets for the homeless men and women in Gosport and Fareham

Determined to do her bit, Teya decided to collect 150 packets to make a blanket.

She made a poster which she took into school and her teacher helped her collect packets from her class mates all the while sticking to Covid-19 restrictions.

She also made a Facebook post for her Beavers pack - 1st Warsash: Owls Colony - to help collect more packets.

Teya Bye, seven, from Warsach has been collecting empty crisp packets to transform them into blankets for the homeless men and women in Gosport and Fareham

Teya Bye, seven, from Warsach has been collecting empty crisp packets to transform them into blankets for the homeless men and women in Gosport and Fareham

Her mum, Eve, told the Daily Echo: "We then found our local 'Crisp Packet Project' and made contact with Karen to introduce ourselves.

"She has been lovely and has said Teya is their youngest member.

"It did feel like our house was being taken over by crisp packets as she left them for a week and then cut them so they were flat, washed them in soapy water and dried each one.

Teya Bye, seven, from Warsach has been collecting empty crisp packets to transform them into blankets for the homeless men and women in Gosport and Fareham

Teya Bye, seven, from Warsach has been collecting empty crisp packets to transform them into blankets for the homeless men and women in Gosport and Fareham

"We had arranged to meet Karen in the Christmas school holidays to give her the packets but then we went into lockdown again.

"So Teya carried on collecting and we are now at 1,060."

This week Teya will be visiting her local Crisp Packet Project to see completed blankets.

Teya Bye, seven, from Warsach has been collecting empty crisp packets to transform them into blankets for the homeless men and women in Gosport and Fareham

Teya Bye, seven, from Warsach has been collecting empty crisp packets to transform them into blankets for the homeless men and women in Gosport and Fareham

Eve added: "Teya is a very kind and determined girl. She likes helping others and feels very strongly about the environment.

"When I said she could have a treat a couple of months ago, she asked for a litter picking stick so we could go to the beach and collect the litter so it didn't get into the sea.

"Teya loves animals, especially dogs - we got her a puppy for her birthday two years ago - we have since homed two rescue dogs as well."