A GROUP of knitting enthusiasts, whose woollen poppies have proved a runaway success in recent years, are already appealing for help towards next year's Remembrance campaign.

As part of the Royal British Legion’s poppy appeal, for the last three years the Leyburn Crafty Ladies have produced and sold knitted poppies, but demand for the must-have fashion accessory always exceeds supply.

For their first effort two years ago, the women produced 100 poppies which quickly sold out – an urgent appeal produced 100 more which all went by October.

Last year, the 20 talented knitters created more than 250 of the knitted tributes, but their efforts did not go far enough and many people were disappointed to find they had sold out.

This year, the Crafty Ladies made 1,200 of the red crocheted poppies after enlisting friends from as far afield as York, Scarborough and Leeds, which were all gone well before Remembrance Sunday, adding £1,430 to the poppy appeal.

Now, the group has a target to produce more than ever for next year’s appeal – but the Crafty Ladies are appealing to the public and asking for donations of unwanted black buttons.

Hazel Derby, from the group, said: “We need black buttons and red wool as stocks are depleted amongst our members.

“It would help if people would look in their sewing boxes and let us have any unwanted black buttons; small ones are best but we are happy for any size.”

Donations of black buttons or red wool for the group to produce the floral tributes may be left in the either of the House and Home Stores in Leyburn Market Place.

The Crafty Ladies meet every first and third Tuesday in the Friend’s Meeting House, Grove Square, Leyburn.