A TALENTED knitting group has helped to bring a ray of light to St Leonard's Hospice in York.

A group of friends who call themselves the Knitter-natters have raised thousands of pounds for the hospice through the sale of their work over the past 18 years.

Their latest efforts have enabled the purchase of special multi-sensory equipment which brings relaxation and stimulation to patients of all ages at the Tadcaster Road site.

The new equipment, a first for the hospice, consists of a light box of 200 optic fibres, each one glowing with light in a waterfall of constantly changing colours. It can be handled and enjoyed in many individual ways, even by bed-ridden patients, it stimulates the senses and encourages relaxation at the same time.

The Knitter-natters have been selling their small soft toys at hospice fairs and more recently at Bailey's Tea Rooms in Museum Street, since the hospice opened.

Lu Mason, occupational therapist at St Leonard's said: "Our aim here at the hospice is to enhance the quality of life for our patients and this is an extra experience we can bring to help replenish the spirit. We already provide massage, music, art and aromatherapy and we have just started using this new and exciting method too. One patient has enjoyed it very much whilst listening to his favourite music.

"Capturing and holding light is such a novel and delightful experience and it is one that can be shared by patients with their families or just enjoyed quietly on their own.

"We are grateful to the knitters and Bailey's Tea Rooms for this."

Meanwhile, volunteers at the Fourth Avenue hospice shop in Tang Hall, York, have organised a fashion show at the hospice.

They intend to use the catwalk to show the quality of clothes donated to the shop.

Manager Sue Bonarius said: "We always have lovely things donated, many of them brand new, and we wanted to show some of them off to a wider audience to encourage people to come to the Tang Hall shop."

The show will take place on April 23, from 7.30pm. The hospice has shops in Acomb, Haxby and Pocklington, as well as Tang Hall.

Updated: 09:12 Thursday, April 10, 2003