Crocheted Christmas tree helps homeless

The Christmas tree will be unveiled to the public by the deputy mayor on Friday afternoon

A full-sized crocheted Christmas tree is going on display in Hailsham to raise money for a homelessness charity.

Hailsham Library has been turned into a woolly wonderland by members of the Hailsham Ropemakers Women’s Institute, who spent nearly a year making more than 700 granny squares using donated wool.

The will be officially unveiled by the deputy mayor on Friday afternoon.

It will raise money for Warming Up the Homeless, which provides outreach support, food and welfare for homeless people in the area.

Lyn Davenport, who helped to make the tree, told Radio Sussex: "In our WI we have a group which is the Knit and Natter group and we have been crocheting since January and we have probably produced over 700 squares.

"It’s very colourful – it’s mainly green and red, but lots of white on it.

"It looks fantastic."

But an enormous knitted tree is not just for Christmas, she added.

"After Christmas we are taking it apart and we are making it into blankets for the homeless."