IT'S a simple idea that has touched the hearts of people in Bradford.

When Atma and Cynthia Trasi, of Bradford Theosophical Society, appealed for knitters to back their support for the Teddies for Tragedies scheme they surely could not have imagined the response they would get.

Seven years later, a third of the 15,000 knitted teddy bears sent out with emergency relief from the UK to give comfort to children affected by disasters, have come through the Shipley couple's hands.

Their army of knitters includes Bessie Ley, of Great Horton, who has single-handedly knitted a remarkable 793 teddies and Ann Hirst, of Bingley, who has knitted 676 teddies.

It's hard to imagine the conditions endured by millions of children across the world who fall victim to catastrophe – either man-made, such as the continuing wars in Syria and Iraq, or from natural disasters like the Himalayan earthquakes earlier this year.

And the scale of the refugee camps providing shelter to the families fleeing war are testing emergency relief charities to the full.

But the gift of a teddy bear for youngsters, whose families in many circumstances have lost all the possessions they own, seems to make a huge difference.

As Mr Trasi points out, doctors found that children having their own teddy to cuddle in their cots get better quicker than those who don't have one.

The Trasis are continuing to collect teddy bears and have another 180 waiting for shipment.

It can be hoped that even more knitters across Bradford will rally to their cause.