NIMBLE-fingered knitters in the borough are being asked to whip out their wool and needles and create little woolly hats for Age UK’s Big Knit campaign.

Now in its eleventh year, the campaign, which helps older people keep warm in winter, is calling on budding milliners to get inventive and knit miniature woolly hats to adorn innocent smoothie bottles.

Bottles will be sold in stores nationwide from February and for each be-hatted smoothie sold, innocent will donate 25p to help Age UK fund national and local winter projects.

Age UK Dudley is urging local knitters to get as many hats as possible to them by November 14 and needs people of all ages to give it a go to help make this a reality.

Jim Cameron, chief officer at Age UK Dudley, said: “Winter can be a really difficult time of year for many older people, so it’s really important that local knitters get behind The Big Knit to help raise funds for vital local winter projects.

"We need knitters in Dudley to help us create lots of miniature hats so that we can run services like our Day Break emergency hampers of foods and blankets to help vulnerable older people keep safe and warm over winter."

A knitting social event will be held on Monday September 8, at the charity's Springboard Activity Centre, on Level Street, Brierley Hill.

Anyone is welcome to attend between 1pm and 4pm to help meet the target of 3,500 miniature hats.

For more information or to get a free hat pattern, visit www.ageukdudley.org.uk or call 01384 354668.

Completed hats or unwanted wool can be dropped off at any local centre or posted to Age UK Dudley at The Junction, 1 Cradley Road, Netherton, Dudley, DY2 9RA.