NURSERIES are making use of knitted props which were donated from a pantomime.

The Georgian Theatre Royal’s production of The Wizard of Oz in Richmond saw 2,000 doughnuts knitted by volunteers.

As the panto period is over, Ridgeway Day Nursery in Richmond and Little Learners Nursery Centre in Scorton have given them a new home.

“We are delighted to have all these fantastic doughnuts,” said Julie Stanwix, manager at Ridgeway Day Nursery.

“Some are located in the baby room as a sensory experience, and in the pre-school children have been enjoying matching, counting and sorting colours, as well as incorporating them into role play situations.”

Some doughnuts have also been donated to the RSPB reserve at Saltholme, near Stockton-on-Tees, which they will use for their knitted display of the Mad Hatter’s tea party.