A DUDLEY dollmaker is flattered that one of her creations was mistaken for a real baby after it was left in a car parked outside Russells Hall Hospital.

Debbie Bonner was shocked when she heard police had smashed their way into 20-year-old Delesia Rattray's Vauxhall Corsa thinking that the "extremely life-like doll", left wrapped up in a blanket by her 10-year-old sister Janiah, was a critically ill baby.

While the sisters visited their mum Carole Johnson - who had been rushed to A&E earlier that day - police were dealing with what they thought was a genuine emergency.

Mrs Bonner said she could "totally see why" the officers had been alarmed, adding: "I try to make them as lifelike as possible so I'll take it as a compliment."

The 50-year-old, who has been a friend of the family for many years, said she gave Janiah the doll, named Ryan, for Christmas last year.

"Her mother told me how interested she was in these dolls and it brought back memories of what I was like as a child," she explained.

"I'd started the doll a long time ago but hadn't finished it so I thought I'd finish it and give it to her as I knew she'd look after it and treasure it."

Mrs Bonner, who works at Queens Cross Network in Dudley, said it takes weeks to create a doll due to the many layers of paint needed to get a real skin effect and tone.

The hair can also take up to 12 hours to complete as only one strand can be rooted at a time.

Although Mrs Bonner has sold some of the dolls she has made over the years, she said it wasn't something she did to make money, adding: "It's a hobby, I like creating things."