Grandmother Bunty McSkimming had an impeccable background when she was made secretary and treasurer of the Glasgow Tree Lovers' Society.

Nevertheless, in two years, the 70-year-old former Sunday School teacher and Girl Guides captain had skimmed #60,000 out of the funds.

McSkimming sat in the dock at Glasgow Sheriff Court as her lawyer said she claimed she had given all the money away to needy children.

''She has been involved in charity work all her life and decided that children needed the money more than the trees,'' said defending lawyer Liam O'Donnell.

The lawyer told the court that McSkimming, of Tantallon Road, Langside, Glasgow, sent money anonymously whenever she saw appeals about starving

children.

McSkimming admitted embezz-ling the money from the Glasgow Tree Lovers' Society, a registered charity, between March 1993 and June 1995.

The sum on the original charge was #83,613.

Her plea of not guilty to embezzling #18,276 while treasurer of the Glasgow Evergreen Organisation was accepted by the Crown.

Sheriff Brian Kearney was told that the accused intended to hand over #15,000 from the sale of her home and that the Tree Lovers had won a legal case to recover the money.

The sheriff deferred sentence for two weeks for background and community service reports.

Mr Ian Bradley, prosecuting, said the Tree Lovers' Society was formed in 1973 and was involved in planting and preserving trees in the city, and had been very active during the Glasgow Garden

Festival.

As secretary and treasurer, the accused was able to manipulate meeting and funds and for a long time nothing was suspected.

The constitution laid down that cheques had to be signed by at least two members but, because she was trusted, she was often given signed blank cheques.

She also cashed Treasury stock when it matured and transferred the money into her own accounts.

Eventually, some members heard rumours from the Glasgow Evergreen Society, of which the accused was treasurer, that all was not well.

Two members confronted the accused at her home and she admitted sending large donations to childrens' charities.

Mr Bradley said that an audit revealed the extent of the embezzlement and police were called in.

''Throughout an interview with police she managed to stonewall every question,'' he said.

Mr O'Donnell told the court that McSkimming was a widow with two married children and for 34 years was secretary of Lourdes Primary School in Cardonald, Glasgow.

The accused had joined the Tree Lovers in 1979 and it was not until five years ago that the offences started.

Mr O'Donnell said: ''Her position is that she kept reading in newspapers and seeing on television appeals for various children's charities, including the plight of kids in Romania and Africa.

''She felt the society had too much money lying about in their account and decided that needy children were a far better cause.''

The lawyer said it was ''unfortunate'' that the accused had no receipts from any of the charities because she had sent money anonymously.

Mr O'Donnell went on to say there were no signs of any extravagant lifestyle.

''She lives on her pension and two years ago gave up her car because she could no longer afford to run it,'' he said.

There was still a #20,000 mortgage on her #35,000 flat and when it was sold she could give the society #15,000. ''She has already applied for rented accommodation,'' he said.

The lawyer said that, for most of her life, McSkimming had been involved with children through being a school secretary, Girl Guide captain, and Sunday School teacher.

''She has also worked among deprived children in the city's Pollokshaws area and helped to run a youth club there,'' he said.

Mr O'Donnell added: ''She is genuinely sorry for betraying the trust of the society but still believes that what she did was in the best interests of the children.''