A WOMAN who knitted two soldiers which have been placed in the window of a city centre shop has been left overwhelmed with comments from passersby.

Cheryl Lowe has created the soldiers to honour her father who fought in Burma during the Second World War.

She only started knitting during lockdown after not being able to find a 'gonk' that was big enough or had the right character. 

A gonk is a gnome that has a hat covering its eyes and a beard. 

Two of her knitted soldiers have now been placed in the window of Peplow's Jewellers to mark the 80th anniversary of D-Day.

Mrs Lowe said: "I have always had a thing for gonks, I've knitted a Viking, witch, wizard, RNLI lifeboat member, king, football player and many more. 

"Then my sister-in-law asked me if I would knit a soldier for Remembrance Sunday so I set to and created my first soldier.

"Then, because of D-Day, I decided to knit another one in honour of my dad, who fought in Burma in WW2."

Her brother-in-law asked if he could borrow the figures for the window display at Peplow's in Worcester's High Street to commemorate D-Day.

The 58-year-old from Evesham said: "I cannot believe how many people have commented on them and I also had a phone call from a lovely lady, who wants a WW2 nurse in uniform, which I am only too happy to do.

"A basic character takes around a week.

"I do not use a pattern, but make it up as I go along.

"All characters are made from wool, cardboard, wood for the legs, and hypoallergenic stuffing."