HUNDREDS of knitted items have been sent to Australia after wildlife charities put out calls for help as they care for injured and orphaned animals.

A team of knitters and crocheters volunteered their time and materials in order to make pouches for animals such as possums, koalas and wombats who have lost their mother in the wildfires.

The Hereford Etsy team was part of a wider global effort to help the Australian animals, with more than 40 kilograms of cotton and woollen items donated.

"It started about three weeks ago when we were sat watching with horror the events in Australia," said team leader Sara Harvey.

"One member just said is there anything we can do and we had this idea. We put it out on social media and had an amazing response.

"We set up for 9.30am and it really worked like a drop-in session. Some sat knitting, crocheting or sewing for hours ad some just dropped in to pick up patterns or to drop off things they'd already made."