POLICE in Inverclyde can help children caught up in distressing events - all thanks to the generosity of local parents.

Parents, staff, pupils and the wider community at King’s Oak Primary recently handed over 60 ‘trauma teddies’ to local officers PC Lynda Quigley and PC Martin Ward.

The school's family hub set up a knitting group where around 15 parents met to knit the teddies.

When word of their efforts spread to people in the local community, others started to hand in completed teddies also.

Police officers attending incidents will give the teddies to children as a simple distraction to help take their focus away from potentially upsetting circumstances.

The teddies can turn a negative experience into something positive and highlight that police are there to help.

As reported previously in the Tele, vulnerable children in Inverclyde are already benefitting, with one officer handing out her first teddy recently.

PC Linda Arthur gave her first trauma teddy to a little girl who had been brave and deserved to be rewarded.

PC Quigley and PC Ward both stopped by the school recently to collect the soft toys from primary 7b.

Outreach worker at the school, Jackie Thomson, said: “Our amazing mums and wider school community deserve so much credit, and the pupils were very proud handing them over."

PC Ward, one of the area's neighbourhood officers, said: "We'd like to thank the mums and the wider community of knitters at the Kings Oak Family Hub for taking this time and effort.

"Their kindness will help us in our work but more importantly will make a positive difference to the lives of young people who are experiencing challenging times."

The tea and teddies group meets at the schools family hub on a Thursday and Friday from 10am and are always keen to welcome new members.

Anyone interested doesn’t have to be able to knit as the group will provide lessons.

Alternatively if anyone is interested but can’t make the group meetings, they can get in touch with the group for the patterns and wool needed.