HOUSING company staff have got their knitters in a twist – all in the name of charity.

Northallerton-based Broadacres is supporting this year’s Big Knit, a joint campaign between Age UK and Innocent Drinks to help vulnerable people.

And six members of staff - Sandra Donnelly, Julie Ford, Elsie Collu, Amanda Barfoot, Fiona Coleman and Amanda Aveyard – have really got into the spirit of the event.

Along with residents living in Broadacres Orchards extra care scheme in Northallerton and its Rockliffe Court physical and sensory disabilities scheme in Hurworth, they have knitted over 300 bobble hats for the campaign.

The hats will go on top of Innocent Drinks, with 25p from every hat-topped bottle sold being donated to Age UK.

Broadacres’ care services administrator Elsie Collu said: “The money raised for Age UK through the campaign helps to keep older people warm and well in winter through befriending visits, emergency cold weather support, warm meals and other vital services.

“As a company which provides services for older people we know how vital this support is, and with so many eager knitters at Broadacres we were delighted to be able to contribute to the campaign.”

She added: “Knowing the hats we knitted will be on supermarket shelves across the UK is fantastic and we are keeping our fingers crossed that more money than ever before is raised through the Big Knit.”

More information on the Big Knit is available from thebigknit.co.uk.