MEMBERS of the Williton Signers charity have presented a package of learning resources to the Little Bridge House children's hospice in Barnstaple.

The signers, who specialise in communication resources for adults and children with learning difficulties, used a donation from the Minehead Mark Master Mason's Lodge and fundraising money collected at this year's Watchet carnival to pay for the bundle of interactive goodies.

Lee Yates, treasurer of the signers, said: "Ever since we saw a promotional fundraising DVD [about the hospice], we knew that our resources needed to be accessible to these children.

"Our books, nursery rhymes and boots are highly visual and interactive and we felt they could help provide extra play opportunities for all family members."

The items were put together from scratch, based on designs used by Somerset Total Communication, a group which aims to help people of all abilities communicate.

The signers are now hoping local people will help them to continue fundraising to enable more resource packs to be donated to other children's hospices across the region.

The next target will be to provide items to the hospice at Charlton Farm in North Somerset before Christmas, with money due to be raised at a curry night hosted by the Spice Merchant Indian restaurant in Watchet on November 18.

For every meal sold that night, the restaurant will donate a percentage of the takings to the signers, providing diners specify the charity as the recipient of their choice.

The final target will be a donation to Little Harbour children's hospice in Cornwall in the spring, which will be supported by the proceeds from Minehead freemasons' Burns Night celebrations.

Mrs Yates added: "We are so grateful to everyone who has pledged their help in turning our dream into a reality.

"It has been easy to become overwhelmed by the size of a such a project but we are determined to see it through."

More information about the group is available on the website http://www.williton.signers">www.williton.signers. co.uk.

Pictured with the donation for the Little Bridge House children's hospice, from the left, are Shelagh Evans, Lee Yates, Paula Hullet, Valerie Ward, Alison Robinson and Elaine Howe.