A DOLL maker has helped to transform the lives of impoverished children in Romania.

Gillie Charlson, who runs a doll-making studio in Bolton Road, Adlington, has spent a month in the town of Brasov with her husband, John, helping youngsters to set up their own cottage industry.

The mother-of-one, who has three grandchildren, is well known all over the world for her dolls which she has been making since she was a child.

Despite the success of her studio, she wanted to do something more with her life and decided to help the children of Romania.

Mrs Charlson taught a group of 26 youngsters, aged six to 16, from a children's home how to make ceramic and rag dolls and now hopes they will be able make money by selling them.

The children at the home had previously been living on the streets and Mrs Charlson was appalled by some of the horrific tales they told her.

She now plans to return next summer to see how the youngsters are progressing and hopes to raise money to help people living in the villages surrounding Brasov.

Mrs Charlson said: "It was rewarding and upsetting as well because I became very attached to the children.

"They were all lovely and we communicated via two interpreters who are now running the studio. Brasov was pretty much like any town centre, but when we visited the villages their lifestyle was really shocking. Families of six or eight were living in little shacks, so I want to raise enough money to help them have their roofs mended." A DOLL maker has helped to transform the lives of impoverished children in Romania.

Gillie Charlson, who runs a doll making studio in Bolton Road, Adlington, has spent a month in the town of Brasov with her husband, John, helping youngsters to set up their own cottage industry.

The mother-of-one, who has three grandchildren, is well known all over the world for her dolls which she has been making since she was a child.

Despite the success of her studio, she wanted to do something more with her life and decided to help the children of Romania.

Mrs Charlson taught a group of 26 youngsters, aged six to 16, from a children's home how to make ceramic and rag dolls and now hopes they will be able make money by selling them.

The children at the home had previously been living on the streets and Mrs Charlson was appalled by some of the horrific tales they told her.

She now plans to return next summer to see how the youngsters are progressing and hopes to raise money to help people living in the villages surrounding Brasov.

Mrs Charlson said: "It was rewarding and upsetting as well because I became very attached to the children.

"They were all lovely and we communicated via two interpreters who are now running the studio. Brasov was pretty much like any town centre, but when we visited the villages their lifestyle was really shocking. Families of six or eight were living in little shacks, so I want to raise enough money to help them have their roofs mended."