A TALENTED health care worker has received a first class stamp of approval for a crocheted masterpiece celebrating the 75th anniversary of the NHS.

Diane Walker, a team secretary at Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust, spent months crafting a special post box topper to mark the 75-year milestone.

The design – which features a whole host of NHS staff as well as a stethoscope, ambulance and even a hospital polishing buffer – is now wowing the people of Thirsk.

“The NHS is close to my heart and I wanted to represent everyone I could,” said Diane, who works in the Community Learning Disabilities team in Northallerton.

She added: "It takes a whole team to keep the NHS going. Not just doctors and nurses, but secretaries, health care assistants, maintenance, psychologists and many others.

York Press: The designs are now on display in ThirskThe designs are now on display in Thirsk (Image: Yarn bombers)

“I wanted to honour as many as possible. The NHS is such an amazing and inspiring institution and I wanted to mark the special anniversary in a special way.”

Diane, who lives near Thirsk, took up crocheting just a few years ago and, together with her friend Andrea Maloney, has now created a whole host of crocheted marvels.

Their first public design marked the Queen’s Jubilee and featured Windsor Castle. It was placed on a local bench, so that children could sit and have tea with the Queen.

Diane said: “We don’t usually talk about what we do, we just set up our displays as a surprise. People really seem to like them, and get a lot of pleasure from them.

“I’ve always loved arts and crafts and find making things very therapeutic. It’s my wind down – I’ve always got a crochet hook in my hand and a project on the go.

“We are always planning new things and I’ll be crocheting for months to make our next design. It’s worth it though – as it helps to put a smile on people’s faces.”

Each project taken on by Diane and Andrea takes an astonishing amount of planning – including solving problems such as holding each structure and figure in place.

York Press: They feature a whole host of NHS staff as well as a stethoscope, ambulance and even a hospital polishing buffer They feature a whole host of NHS staff as well as a stethoscope, ambulance and even a hospital polishing buffer (Image: Supplied)

Although the designs can be tricky, Diane – who has worked for the NHS for almost six years after 30 years in the civil service – is delighted with the end results.

Diane said: “It requires quite a bit of problem solving, some engineering and lots of inventiveness.

"Everyone benefits from the NHS and we’ve had some great reactions. I think people are pleased to see something a bit different marking the anniversary.

“Our NHS doesn’t discriminate, it’s open to all. It has cared for generations of my family and generations of people in Thirsk too. I think we are all proud of the NHS.”