A CHARITY is urging the public to get their knitting needles ready as it launches its annual fundraising initiative.

Age UK Oxfordshire is asking residents to knit little hats to go on top of Innocent smoothie drinks bottles for the 13th year running.

For every hat the charity sends to Innocent, 25p will be donated to its unfunded Information and Advice Helpline.

Oxford Mail:

Download patterns on the charity's website 

Then you can send your little hats to:

‘The Big Knit’
Age UK Oxfordshire
St Edmund House
39 West St Helen Street
Abingdon
Oxfordshire
OX14 5BT

If you have any queries about the Big Knit email media@ageukoxfordshire.org.uk or ring 0345 450 1276

There is an extra challenge this year and if the charity can send in 28,000 hats Innocent will donate £8,000 towards the Helpline.

Rachel Boland, head of information and advice, said: “Our helpline supports over 3,000 people each year, giving them advice on a wide range of topics affecting older people and also linking them in to essential local services.

To help spread the word, the charity has completed a 'mannequin challenge', which can be watched here: http://bit.ly/2iiZAmg

The first deadline for hats is Monday, January 23.