Norfolk shoppers urged to ‘bobble’ for charity

Shoppers are being urged to wear their bobble with pride as part of a charity event to support elderly people through the cold winter months.

The subzero temperatures have prompted a regional supermarket chain to team up with Age UK to urge people to get involved in 'Bobble Hat Day' next week.

Staff from 200 East of England Co-operative shops will be wearing their knitted bobble hats on Friday, February 11 for the fundraising event, which also aims to raise awareness of the difficulties facing older people in later life.

Shoppers are being encouraged to join in the fun by buying an orange 'bobble badge' from stores across the region with a suggested contribution of �1.

The initiative, which was launched at the Solar supermarket in Long Stratton on Tuesday, will raise funds for Age UK and its network of services.

April Armstrong, head of member and community services for the East of England Co-operative Society said: 'Bobble Hat Day is unique to us and we are inviting colleagues from across the society to join in this fun event that has a very serious message.'

'Having experienced the coldest winter on record it's a concern that even in warmer winters large numbers of older people die needlessly every day in the UK as a result of the cold.'

Suzanne Handsley, of Age UK Norfolk, said the charity was 'delighted' with the partnership with the society, which gave an added impetus to its Spread the Warmth campaign to try and reduce suffering and preventable winter deaths amongst people in later life.