An Alsager and Crewe stroke group has had on behalf of King Charles III thanking them for their gift and message following the death of the Queen.

Stroke Survivors Speech & Language Support Group which has a branch in Alsager and Crewe has received a letter from Buckingham Palace.

The group sent a card with their condolences and a collage they made which included commemorative coins, photos of the royal family, a football match programme and a silk napkin.

The activity was organised by group member and Alsager resident and stroke survivor, Sue Helliwell, said she was "shocked" to receive the letter.

She said: "It's a lovely gesture for the group. I feel so honoured that the King took the trouble to read our card and look at the collage."

The letter, sent on the King's behalf says: "His Majesty is most grateful to you for taking the trouble to send him the collage board from the Crewe and Alsager stroke survivors support group following the death of his beloved mother.

"Your thoughtful message and gift are deeply appreciated at this time of immense sorrow and the King would have me send you his warmest thanks and best wishes."

The group meets weekly in Crewe and Alsager and takes part in a variety of activities, including art work.   

The group's aim is to provide a social and welcoming space for people who've had a stroke and to support one another.

The backdrop to the collage for the King was a map of Alsager and surrounding towns, which then has various objects stuck to it – each with a royal connection.

This includes commemorative coins, photos of the royal family, a football match programme and a silk napkin that was made and handed out to schoolchildren in Macclesfield to mark The Queen's coronation.

There was also information about the group and bee stickers in reference to the King's passion for environmental campaigning.

Sue Helliwell sourced materials for the collage from charity shops in Alsager.

The silk napkin (which was made in Macclesfield and given to local children to commemorate The Queen's coronation in 1953) was found at an auction house in Sandbach.

"What we're trying to do on the collage is have something for each town.

"There's a map on the back of Alsager, and because we're Stroke survivors it's to talk about where we live in Cheshire.

"So we've kept Alsager and Crewe and the surrounding areas clear so people can talk about where they live and where they've been and local landmarks.

"And we know king Charles likes the environment, we've put 'love our earth' on there with some bumble bees.

The Alsager group meets every Thursday (10.30am-midday) at the Thirteen Club to help people forget their illnesses and cope with the after effects of having a stroke.

Mrs Helliwell said: "We have all different forms of ability. We don't like to be labelled, but when we come here it's a safe space where we can talk.

"It's somewhere safe and nice to have and not feel doom and gloom because there's something wrong with you.

"It's a lovely group, and we're helping each other."

 The group has a website https://www.stroke.org.uk/finding-support/clubs-and-groups/stroke-survivors-speech-and-language-group and a Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/StrokeSurvivorsGroup