SHE’S been making gifts for 75 years but this Christmas Barbara Ross will be bringing joy to hundreds of soldiers in Afghanistan by sending out special military-themed cards.

Now aged 78, Mrs Ross, of Kelvin Street, Ashton, has been making cards since she was three years old. But this year, as well as making thousands of cards for friends, family and local good causes, unknown British soldiers are also on her list.

"I started when I was three years old with my auntie, she was a dress maker. She used to save all the bits for me to make cards," she said.

"I made the cards, we used to sell them in the community shop on Stockport Road. I passed them on to different places, charity shops like the Wooden Canal Boat Society shop and old people’s homes. Then people were saying that they were sending parcels to the soldiers."

Using the cutting and pattern making skills she learnt as a tailoress, as well as CD-roms with military designs, great grandmother Mrs Ross set about making colourful 3D cards that look professional enough to be on sale in card shops. Now, most days, she devotes hours to printing designs from her computer, cutting out shapes and designs and gluing them all together to make the cards, which feature soldiers, military equipment, tanks and helicopters. She pays for all the materials for the cards herself and gives away hundreds of cards each month, many of which are sold at church and school fairs, charity shops and other good causes.

"I can make up to 40 cards a day," said Mrs Ross, who has passed her skills onto her children and grandchildren. "I spend almost all day making cards.’

If you would like to include some of her cards in your group’s shipment of shoeboxes to Afghanistan this Christmas or next, contact the Advertiser on 0161 339 7611. Mrs Ross is also looking for donations of coloured card, paper and fabric.