A SOUTHAMPTON great grandmother who has crocheted dozens of blankets plans to donate them to child refugees fleeing Ukraine.

Freda Pine has made a stack of colourful crocheted blankets that she wants to donate to those escaping the conflict in Ukraine.

The 96-year-old has previously donated blankets to newborns at Princess Anne Hospital and has helped raise funds for equipment.

But now, Freda is searching for someone to help her donate the blankets to families in Ukraine.

She said: "I would like them to go to the children in Ukraine because now it is a war-torn country.

"I want them to go to the children that don't have anything because they are nice bright colours and they can be wrapped up in them when they are cold."

Freda was born in 1926 and her parents lived on Paynes Road in Shirley.

She was the middle child of five siblings - Harry, Raymond, Betty and Brian - and has lived all over Southampton over the years.

During her younger years, Freda was an air-raid warden throughout the Second World War and spent time comforting new mums and their babies.

She then worked in Pirelli’s, the cable makers in Western Esplanade, as well as a number of other jobs including making school meals.

Freda was married to William, a soldier, in 1946 following his return from Burma - now named Myanmar - and they were married in a church in Millbrook.

She described William as " a wonderful man" and said they spent "many fantastic years together".

They had two children, David and Maria, followed by four grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

William passed away in 2000, and following his death, Freda moved back to Paynes Road where she had spent the very first months of her life.

In July 2021, Freda moved into Fair Havens retirement home in Winchester Road, which she described as "a wonderful place to live with wonderful people".

If you can help Freda donate her blankets to refugees, contact emily.liddell@dailyecho.co.uk for more information.