A COMMUNITY has stepped in to help complete the legacy of a much-loved knitter.

Jean House, who was 80 when she died in October, had been making knitted teddy bears for years to donate to the children being treated at Dorset County Hospital.

But suffering from memory loss in her later years, Mrs House was unable to complete her last set of 37 teddies and they were left without the black thread to make their faces.

When she died, the uncompleted teddies were packed up and put in a bag at the house she shared with husband Keith, 83. The couple were married for 60 years.

But then Mr House heard about Overcombe WI member Diane Berry, another keen knitter who makes teddies.

With the help of neighbour Theresa Newton, he got in touch.

The bears were handed over to Mrs Berry and very soon were full of smiles.

Mrs House made trauma teddies since finding out about them through the Preston Ladies Circle.

Due to the risk of infection stuffed animals cannot be kept at the hospital and given to different children - so lots of trauma teddies are made so they can have one each.

Mr House said: "She knitted them for years, but gradually the memory loss started to affect her. For a while, I blamed it on the teddies, but now I think they were stimulating her."

Despite her illness, Mrs House continued to go dancing with her husband, an activity they both loved.

The couple met at the music and drama festival in Weymouth and were married at All Saints Church in Wyke Regis in 1954.

It was here they chose to have a blessing on their golden wedding anniversary in 2004.

The couple had a daughter and a son, and now have four grandchildren.

Mr House said: "Her other main interest was gardening. She was always changing it and adding to it.

"We had a lovely life together."

Mrs Berry, who passed the teddies with their story on to delighted staff at the MIU, said: "I was very pleased to help and finish the work on behalf of Mrs House."

Mr House added: “I am absolutely delighted and grateful - I can’t thank her enough. "My Jean would be so pleased."