Relatives and patients at Congleton War Memorial Hospital, a National Health Services Trust facility, used to be asked to knit squares that could be sewn into blankets and donated to local charities. Now, any knitter looking to purl away some time must ask permission at the hospital's reception desk before being handed the supposedly hazardous equipment, the Daily Mail reported Monday.

Michael Lambert, chairman of the hospital's league of friends, said a box was available to anyone who wanted to knit a blanket square while visiting.

"The idea was they would then be sent off to charities and be turned into blankets and clothes for the needy," Lambert said. "Then one day a health and safety guy came along and didn't like the look of the box of wool and needles."

Bernie Salisbury, director of nursing and operations at another NHS Trust hospital, said the measure was a "sensible and proactive measure will avoid preventable accidents."