Knitting fans unveil crafty Christmas creations

Members of the Swinton Picadilly Methodist Church craft group have made over 300 knitted stockings, which will be distributed to houses around the estate.

Each stocking, which comes with a loop so it can be hung on a Christmas tree, and contains an invitation to the Christmas carol service at the church at 4pm on December 23.

The four-inch stockings, 100 of which have been produced by prolific Betty Thompson, had been knitted by “the ladies of the church”, said church steward Chris Houghton.

“They will go out to people’s homes in the week before the concert,” said Chris.

“At the moment they are on display at the church.”

Meanwhile, Wath WI have unveiled their traditional knitted Christmas tree in Wath Library, drawing a crowd to their own switching-on ceremony during the village’s Christmas festival.