A MUM has raised £440 for a charity close to her heart by making and selling Easter bonnets.

Kellie Bates from Lower Gornal realised many busy parents and carers lacked the time or talent to create children's bonnets so decided to put her talent to good use.

The mum-of-three decided to offer her services via a Facebook page, Kel's Easter bonnets, with a percentage of profits being donated to the Williams Syndrome Foundation.

She was keen to support the charity as her son, Matthew, who attends Woodsetton School, has the rare disorder, caused by an abnormality in chromosomes.

Kellie, who is the five-year-old's carer, said: "The foundation provides much needed support and advice to families like ours. They also organise days out, fund valuable research into the condition and raise awareness so it is lovely for me to be able to give a little back."

Her aim was to beat last year's donation of £200 and she managed to double it through the sale of 336 bonnets.

Kellie, who is also mum to Chloe, aged six and two-year-old Katie, said: "I'm gobsmacked, people have been so generous and lots of people who have purchased a bonnet have donated a bit more on top.

"The charity is really pleased. I'm going to give myself a month off and spend some quality time with the children before I start making them again, at my leisure, ready for next year."