A Carlisle woman who raised thousands of pounds for charity through her imaginative craftwork has passed away.

Edna Armstrong will be remembered for her dedication to and commitment for helping many local charities and organisations.

The 79-year-old, of Heysham Gardens, Raffles, was recognised for crocheting hundreds of World War One poppies and daffodils for Marie Curie.

“She could actually put her hand to anything at all. It didn’t matter what it was,” said her son Mark, 53, of Yewdale Road, Belle Vue.

“It was out of her head all the time. She could pick it up and just do it. She could be knitting 10 different things at once. If she was knitting or crocheting she would have a conversation with you without even looking at what she was doing. It just came naturally to her.”

His mum, who died suddenly at the Cumberland Infirmary on June 10, also made cards, dresses and enjoyed baking.

Most recently she made 500 pom-poms as part of Eden Valley Hospice’s attempt to set a Guiness World Record for the longest line of pom-poms. The hospice needs 7,500 to break the record.

Last year she also took on the challenge of creating the huge centrepiece of a wall hanging to celebrate 200 years of The Cumberland News. The 35-piece patchwork quilt features squares representing local history and culture and proudly hangs in the reception of Cumbrian Newspapers’ Dalston Road reception.

Edna was born and brought up in Carlisle’s Greta Avenue, off Wigton Road.

As a youngster she was a regular churchgoer at Holy Trinity Church in Caldewgate and in her later years continued to play a big part in the church community and many events at the parish hall.

Upon leaving school she worked as a barmaid at the King’s Head in Fisher Street before training as a nurse.

At first she worked in mental health at the Garlands. She moved to work at A&E in the Cumberland Infirmary and then worked in geriatrics.

Edna was forced to take early retirement due to ill health when was diagnosed with lung disease in her 50s.

Unbeknown to her family the staff at Heysham Gardens were due to nominate her for a Cumbria Woman of the Year Award. She often organised trips for the residents there and regularly ordered in fish and chips for them to enjoy.

Mark added that his mum was always willing to help others. He said: “If anyone came with a problem it didn’t matter what is was she would have a go at sorting it.”