A TIRELESS community champion who sent more than 4,000 teddies to children in the Third World has lost her battle against cancer.

Grandmother Margo Sadler, well-known for her fund-raising in the district, died last month at the age of 81.

She was a former chairman of Wolverley and Cookley Parish Council and Women's Institute president and helped out with Meals on Wheels.

The ex-president of the Conservative Association also helped raise enough money to save the roof on St Peter's Church in Cookley.

But her 53-year-old son Nigel Sadler said Teddies for Tragedies was always her favourite charity.

The widow, who worked as a plotter in the WAF during the Second World War, started appealing for women to knit teddies for the charity in 1996.

People would drop knitted teddies on Mrs Sadler's doorstep in Lea Lane, Cookley, and when she had collected enough to fill her car, she would take them to Evesham where another woman would send them abroad.

After hearing Third World children got better if they had a teddy to cuddle, she sent more than 4,000 to children as far away as Kosovo, Peru and India.

Now her son and village friend Barbara Shenton, who helped with teddy deliveries, are appealing for people to continue collecting wool and knitting bears.

Mr Sadler said: "Mum had always been an avid knitter and ever since I could remember I have had jumpers and bobble hats knitted for me.

"She started off knitting these teddies and then she handed out patterns to other women.

He added: "It was set up so that kids who are in hospital and don't have a thing can have a toy which helps them get better a lot quicker and it just snowballed from there.

"My mum thought of these kids and it just got to her."

Mrs Shenton added: "It's such a worthwhile cause that I don't like the idea of it folding up.

"If somebody wants to take it over I don't want to tread on anyone's shoes, but until then I am very happy to continue taking the teddies to Evesham.

"If anyone will help me that will be very nice."

Anyone interested in the appeal should contact Mrs Shenton on 01562 852432.