A DEPARTMENT store hopes visitors will flock through the doors when they celebrate North Yorkshire’s farming heritage.

Four live sheep will be brought into the men’s department of Barkers in Northallerton on Saturday, October 11, when there will also be a demonstration of wool spinning to show children and other customers how wool is produced.

The event is to mark the national Campaign for Wool, which aims to raise awareness amongst customers about the natural and sustainable benefits of using wool.

On Friday, October 10, the family-run store will also host a Knit and Natter event, when people interested in joining the knitting group can meet members, who gather each week in the store’s restaurant.

Organiser Dawn Ledger, from Barkers, said: “We are part of a rural community and we want to celebrate that by organising some events for the Campaign For Wool.

“Wool is a brilliant natural fibre and we want to remind people of the area's role in producing it, and support local industry as a lot of our customers are farmers.

“Throughout the week we are going to have different events, and we thought it would be a great idea to have some live sheep in a pen and a spinning demonstration. It will show customers and children how wool is produced.

“Every Friday we have out Knit and Natter group in the store. It is very popular and a great way of making friends with other knitting enthusiasts.”

The sheep are being loaned to the store for the day by the Big Sheep Little Cow attraction in Bedale.

Wool Week runs from October 6 to October 12.