A CHARITY effort has been boosted with the knitting and nattering of North-East pensioners.

Residents at St George’s Hall care home in Middleton-St-George, Darlington made more than 200 tiny bobble hats that will adorn supermarket smoothie bottles as part of a nationwide joint charity event between Age UK and Innocent Smoothies.

The project aims to raise funds for the elderly who are living at home and struggling to pay heating bills. The home’s activities co-ordinator Jackie Malton said: “We saw the advert on tv and we said we’d have a go.

“When the ladies here asked me why we were doing it I told them it was for the old ladies who still live at home but have no heating.

“They couldn’t believe it as it’s like a greenhouse in here. They know they are very lucky so they were keen to do their bit.

“It’s been lovely to see the staff sitting with the residents chatting away while they knitted and it’s always good to find an activity that everyone can do together.”