Liverpool-based John Mason International is helping to save animals injured by the devastating fires in Australia by collecting and shipping donated knitted items needed to protect wounds caused by the fires.

Knitters around the world are handmaking pouches, nests and mittens for animals from kangaroos and koalas, to wombats and wallabies, following an appeal by Australia-based Animal Rescue Craft Guild on its Facebook group, which has amassed more than 120,000 members in recent weeks.

Young marsupials, including possums, koalas and wombats, require pouches to grow. Without their mothers they rely on hand-stitched products from donors. Other animals such as flying foxes also require pouches to help their recovery, and rescuers say koalas need mittens for their burnt paws.

Millions of hectares of land have burned in the bushfires, killing an estimated one billion animals. As the death toll climbs, many creatures have been orphaned or left without homes.

John Mason International’s Sales & Marketing Director Simon Hood said, “To help do our bit we will not only be acting as a drop-in hub for knitters in the North West of England, but will also be helping to ship the items to Australia. Anyone with items can drop them into our reception Monday to Friday, 9-5, or send them to our Liverpool office.”

Other movers around the world wishing to take part in the scheme can find out more by visiting the Guild’s Facebook page using the link above.