ROSS mum Hannah Lerego bought her daughter Olivia a sewing kit for her birthday little knowing it would spark such enthusiasm.

Now Olivia, 8, who attends year three at Ashfield Park Primary School, has been awarded a certificate for outstanding work for a hand sewn Christmas mobile.

For Christmas Olivia received a new sewing box to keep all her sewing things in and just a few days later her mother heard that she had won the Christmas draw at Essential Sewing Services in Gloucester Road, Ross-on-Wye, the shop that supplied the sewing box, scooping £50 in vouchers.

"I am absolutely delighted that the prize has been won by someone who will make good use of it," said shop owner Helen Kiddy of Ross Traders.

"In this current economic climate sewing is becoming a popular pastime again – more people are making their own repairs in order to make things last longer. They are taking up sewing for the very first time and finding that it's actually quite enjoyable and therapeutic."