THOUSANDS of miniature jerseys are being given a new lease of life as a lasting reminder of the Tour de France.

The tiny jerseys were all hand-knitted and festooned around the Harrogate district to welcome the race when it made its historic Grand Départ from Yorkshire.

Now they are being turned into blankets by a team of dedicated volunteers – and people can see them in action at the town’s International Centre as it plays host to the Knitting and Stitching Show until November 23.

The idea to use mini jerseys as bunting to welcome the Tour, the world’s largest annual sporting event, was originally dreamt up by students from the University of York.

Harrogate Borough Council’s Park Team, who led the project, thought they would set the needle high by asking knitters for 3,000 small jerseys to create the unique display.

However, they were overwhelmed by the response with over 23,500 jerseys being made with contributions from as far afield as Europe, Bermuda, Canada and New Zealand.

The jersey bunting remained in place until September, when it was taken down and washed ready to be stitched into blankets - which will be sold to help raise funds for a number of charities including Oxfam and Carers’ Resource.

“When we began the ‘Le Tour de Bunting’ project we had no idea that it would seize the imagination of so many people around the world, said the local cabinet member for the environment, Cllr Phil Ireland.

“The district looked absolutely amazing with the colourful jerseys hung around the towns and villages.

“They certainly added to the magnificent spectacle which has become known as the grandest Grand Départ - the best in the entire history of the Tour.”

The blankets will be on sale in Oxfam’s Harrogate, Knaresborough and Ripon shops.