Members of Edgworth WI together with President, Brenda Hill (left) visit Dolly the cow for some fund raising inspiration

EDGWORTH women are aiming to buy a cow before Christmas - and it has nothing to do with pantomimes.

The ladies of the Women's Institute are hoping to raise cash for a milking cow which could literally save lives in Uganda.

Marjorie Openshaw, from the Edgworth Women's Institute, said: "We want to help people to help themselves.

"It's not just a question of throwing money at people.

"If you give them a cow, then they become more viable as a community."

Cows are highly prized in Uganda and not only give milk but also produce calves and create manure for farming.

The WI members in the village of Edgworth, in the countryside north of Bolton, were touched during a recent talk about the plight of Ugandan village women who scratch a living in the dusty countryside in the East African country.

After raising money at a monthly raffle, they are still in need of cash and will discuss at their next meeting other ways of "milking" generous folk in Turton and surrounding area.

If they raise more than their target of £750 before the end of the year, they will also be able to buy other live stock for the village - chickens cost £25, a pig costs £50 and £150 buys a pair of goats.

The Associated Country Women of the World, which organises the event, will not be able to tell the Edgworth WI which village the cow or other livestock would go to.

But the WI members in Edgworth - which is surrounded by farms - say they would just be glad to know they have helped women struggling to survive.