A bonded non-woven fabric suitable for use as an absorbent layer in a wound dressing comprised of absorbent staple fibres, wherein the absorbent staple fibres comprise gelling fibres, and having bonding stripes of relatively high fibre entanglement density extending along the fabric and into the fabric from at least one face thereof, said stripes being transversely spaced from each other by regions of relatively lower fibre entanglement density wherein the width of the stripes at the face of the fabric is less than the width of said regions of lower fibre entanglement density as measured transversely to the stripes. Most preferably, the width of the stripes at the fabric face is 0.7 to 3 mm and stripes are of substantially equal width throughout the depth of the stripe. Preferably, staple absorbent fibres and non-absorbent fibres have a length of 25 to 76 mm. Preferably, absorbent fibres comprise alginate fibres incorporating carboxymethyl cellulose. Preferably, non-absorbent fibres are selected from polyester, polyamide, acrylic or polypropylene and, more preferably, incorporate an antimicrobial agent.
