A Malvern designer and grandmother will tackle lockdown by making enough button and bead animals to fill Noah's Ark, or should that be The Lockdown Zoo?

This pleasurable task is exactly what Julie Thomas did during the last lockdown, to delight her two grandchildren, Ralph, aged 5 and Seb, aged 7; and this lockdown will be no different.

Mrs Thomas said: "I have a massive collection of recycled buttons and beads I have amassed over many years, that I keep in my shed, The Krafty Kabin! I was Facetiming my two grandsons whilst in my Kabin at the start of last lockdown. They asked me if I would try to make a giraffe out of the buttons and beads. George the Giraffe was 'born' on March 24. He proved to be a great success with them, and they then began requesting a different animal to show them every morning over Facetime.

"So it was then I decided to create the Lockdown Zoo. My grandchildren love them, and the more animals I make, the more intricate they become."

So far, Mrs Thomas estimates that she has made around 200 creature for her zoo.

Mrs Thomas, owner of the Full of Bright Ideas design business, added: "I was busy creating each day, and as my skills and techniques improved, the zoo soon became home to many different exotic species! Every one is unique, just like us.When Lockdown began to ease off, I decided to continue making animals. Now we are about to go into a second lockdown, I am creating more creatures. People are following them on Facebook and Instagram and they enjoy seeing what animal I have made each day."

Mrs Thomas is often inspired by the animals she sees while walking on the Malvern Hills, and she has also being inspired by the statue of the two buzzards, in Rose Gardens, Great Malvern.

Recently, the Blue Cross Charity Shop, in Barnard's Green, donated a large number of broken buttons and beads, to keep her going with materials and Mrs Thomas showed her gratitude by making a donation.