TROUBLED kids in the Cowdenbeath and Lochgelly areas are getting extra hugs thanks to a team of nice knitters.

Lauren Moffat, along with her mother in-law Catherine Moffat and friends, have been busy with their needles to make trauma teddies, which police use to help comfort young children affected by crime or upsetting incidents.

So far they've knitted more than 30 of the cute bears, which are made to a special design with each cuddly toy unique, with their own little characters.

Lauren, a senior support worker with Kingdom Housing Association, said: “We enjoy knitting the teddies and it’s great to think that they can be put to such a good use.”

The teddies spent time at head office before being handed over to local police for distribution.

The innovative scheme, which originated with Australian firefighters, has become popular across Scotland as a way of breaking down barriers between children and police officers.

Kingdom’s health and safety officer, Dave Roy, said: “The Kingdom trauma teddies will have a positive impact on young people who come into contact with the police and we’re delighted to be working in partnership with Police Scotland and able to assist with the initiative.

“The teddies will give that wee bit of comfort at a time when children may have experienced something that is a bit traumatic.

"It could be that they have been involved in a road accident or been lost in a public place. We would like to thank everyone who contributed towards this.”

Last year police in Cowdenbeath were overwhelmed by the response to a force appeal for trauma teddies, with more than 480 specially knitted bears handed into the town’s police station.