The Hallam MP, and leader of the Liberal Democrats nationally, was more than happy to support a new campaign by Oxfam.

But when they told him it involved knitting a blanket, he knew he had been stitched-up.

Oxfam is running a Maternal Mortality Campaign which aims to highlight the massive number of women who die in pregnancy and childbirth because they don't get basic medical care.

Central to the campaign is a giant baby blanket which Oxfam supporters are knitting.

Nick was invited to join knitters at the Fulwood Road Oxfam shop and to create a nine inch square to add to the blanket.

Each square represents a mother who would have survived childbirth or pregnancy if she had received the healthcare she needed.

Nick admits it's the first time he's ever picked up a pair of needles but was keen to help a good cause.

"I can't knit so I was quite scared," he laughed. "It was a big learning experience. I wanted to show my support but didn't realise I would be knitting.

"I couldn't let my incompetence stop me but I might take it up as hobby and get myself a rocking chair as well!"

But the father-of-two says there was a serious issue behind the fun campaign.

"I'm a huge fan of Oxfam's campaign to highlight the crisis of mothers around the world. I've always been very interested in issues in the developing world and I spent two years before going into politics managing development projects in two of the poorest countries in Asia.

"I saw how critical and poor some of the services are. Every minute a mother dies and 500,000 will die this year alone."

The blanket will be used to put pressure on world leaders to cut maternal mortality and provide free essential healthcare.

Log on to www.oxfam. org .uk/knitting to show support.




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