An older people's organisation in Great Yarmouth is taking part in a national knitting drive by aiming to complete 5,000 tiny hats.

An older people's organisation in Great Yarmouth is taking part in a national knitting drive by aiming to complete 5,000 tiny hats.

The Acorn Centre and national charity Age UK, have asked for knitters to make tiny hats to be placed on drinks bottles in shops up and down the country.

For each bottle of Innocent Smoothies sold, 25p will go towards Age UK's work to help support older people.

Services manager of Age Concern Great Yarmouth Jackie Tierney said she was counting on the people of Great Yarmouth to knit.

She added: 'We're overwhelmed with how much support this year's Big Knit has received – the hats are getting more and more impressive and they are coming in thick and fast which is great, our individual target this year is 4346 and we are just 815 away.

'We need to hit our huge two million hat target though so we're asking all those out there who want to help make a difference to the lives of older people in Great Yarmouth to pick up your needles for one final knit.

'It doesn't matter whether you're a dab hand and can knock up a miniature hat in ten minutes or whether you've never knitted a row in your life, we want everybody to get behind the Big Knit and help us smash this incredible target.'

Every hat donated to Age Concern Great Yarmouth will help keep older people warm and well by funding local services such as the annual Turkey and Tinsel event, slipper exchange, lunch groups and the Acorn Centre.

A spokesman for Innocent Smoothies, said: 'We have had such great support for the Big Knit over the years, we are positive knitters across the country will take the challenge to make this year's event the biggest ever. Even if you've never knitted a stitch, creating a little hat is a great way to start and won't take long. We're massively grateful to everyone who joins in and helps make this year's campaign a huge success.'

For more information on the Big Knit contact Age Concern Great Yarmouth at the Acorn Centre, call 01493 262052 or go to www.acgy.org.uk The hats need to be delivered to the Acorn Centre in Regent Street by Monday, July 31.

The hat knitting pattern is available to download, to find out more visit: www.ageuk.org.uk/bigknit or go to the Acorn Centre to pick up a leaflet.