TWELVE nifty knitters have put in egg-stra effort to raise money for Acorns Children's Hospice over Easter.

Organiser Anita Haycock had a cracking idea to raise money for the Bath Road hospice and along with her knitting and stitching group have created little woollen animals which cover a Cadbury's Creme Egg.

The 12 knitters and stitchers - who have an average age of 80 - are hoping their little knitted niceties, which are on sale at the hospice, will raise the charity more than £2,000.

The group, who knit all year round in readiness for Easter, sell knitted chicks, ducks, bears and bunnies at £1 each.

Mrs Haycock, from Twining near Tewkesbury, said the challenge was keeping up with the demand but the knitters were committed and worked hard to keep a constant supply.

She said: “The eldest in the group is 94.

“The other day I went to her house to pick some up and she came to the door knitting.”

The knitters have so far created 2,370 animals including 1,250 chicks with hats, 471 rabbits, 304 chickens, 289 bears and 56 ducks on water.

The characters are sold across Worcester, Malvern and into Gloucestershire in shops, schools and nurseries, with Mrs Haycock and her husband Sam often taking calls from outlets in need of restocking.

“We sell them all over including at the Acorns hospice itself in Worcester.

"It’s such a good charity to support and it’s so moving when you go round the hospice - I can’t think of a better cause.”

Rachael Anstey, community fundraising officer for Acorns, said: “We’re so grateful to Anita and all of the knitters for their tireless fundraising.

“Without donations and fundraising efforts like theirs we would not be able to meet the majority of the more than £8million it costs us to carry out our work.”