Check out these Olympic themed postbox toppers

The 2024 Olympics officially kicks off at the end of this week and lots of people have been celebrating the arrival of the sporting competition.

One crafting group in Hertfordshire has come up with a creative way to mark the event which takes place in Paris this year.

Cleverly nicknamed the 'Yarnlympics', members have been crocheting and knitting Olympic sporting events to decorate local postboxes. Some Paralympic events including para-cycling are also featured.

Around 100 people who are part of the Secret Society of Hertford Crafters have spent several months knitting, crocheting and crafting 37 postbox toppers which people will be able to spot in the towns of Hertford and Ware.

The sporty tributes will be on display from Sunday 21 July until 11 August and the the group hopes the fun creations will help them raise money for charity.

The creations took months to make and this one shows fans watching some boxing

The group made 37 postbox toppers including this one which shows gymnasts doing some impressive moves

The crafters met up three times a week to work on the postbox toppers which are mostly made of recycled materials.

They pay tribute to different events and aspects of the 2024 Paris Olympic Games and the Paralympic Games and include athletes as well as fans, flags and even medals.

One of the toppers shows triathletes competing while spectators watch in the background, while another shows numerous pairs of knitted legs poking out of a pool to represent synchronised swimming.

This topper features team GB skateboarder Sky Brown

"Sometimes we need something to smile about and we want to bring a bit of joy," said Marge Ellis who took part in the project.

"It's a wonderful feeling to know that you have made someone happy."

Ms Ellis said the creations took "months and months" to craft, adding "We just generally follow patterns. Some of us, some very, very clever ones can make them up."

The group even managed to make a topper including their own members

Another topper, which Ms Ellis worked on, shows knitted figures of the group taking part in sports, others knitting and two people placing yarn and needles on top of a postbox.

"We wanted something sporty but we are not really sporty, we would rather knit!" said Ms Ellis.

Although the project was a fun, it wasn't free from challenges.

Ms Ellis said faces are the hardest things to create and, while some people are very good at them, they are "really really tricky".

Synchronised swimming is one of the sports represented

What do you think of the crocheted creations? And how are you getting ready for the Olympics? Why not let us know in the comments below.