KNITTERS are lending their expert hands to an older people’s charity.

Oxfordshire Age UK, formerly Age Concern Oxfordshire, has appealed for young and old to get involved in the Big Knit 2010.

Seasoned knitters are needed to help make hundreds of thousands of miniature woolly hats to sit on top of bottles of smoothies sold at Sainsbury’s.

Then, for each be-hatted bottle the store sells, the drink producer, Innocent, and Sainsbury’s will give 25p to the charity to help fund winter warmth projects for older people all over the country.

Jamie Gilder, 33, activities coordinator at Glebe House care home, in Kidlington, said families and friends of residents had been eagerly knitting the mini hats already.

She said: “My family are also helping out.

“I have had a go too but I’ m quite slow.

“I’ve only managed four so far, whereas my grandmother has made hundreds. They are really easy to make and it’s for such a good cause I’d encourage everyone to lend a hand and get involved.”

Knitters can contact Age UK Oxfordshire to get a simple hat pattern.

If you don’t fancy making a hat yourself, wool and needles can be donated to either Age UK shops or offices to help others.

Completed hats should be delivered to Oxfordshire Age UK, at St Edmund House, 39 West St Helen Street, Abingdon, OX14 5BS.

For more information, call 01235 849400.