Knitting churchgoers have given their blessing to an American initiative bringing comfort and warmth to other members of the community.

Members of the congregation at Ilkley’s Christchurch, The Grove, are getting busy with their knitting needles on a project imported from the Prayer Shawl Ministry.

For ten years, women in the US have been knitting and crocheting woollen shawls, praying as they make them, and giving them to people in need of comfort or solace.

Now a small Ilkley group has set up its own scheme.

Churchgoer Val Appleton said: “We actually pray as we knit, and then they are blessed by the minister in church.”

The Ilkley knitting group would like to hear from anyone interested in helping out – and from the friends or relatives of people who would appreciate the gift. The shawls can be given to people suffering from serious illness, or those who are isolated and alone.

Store chain Boyes, which has a branch in Ilkley, gave the group a voucher allowing them to buy wool for the project. The group can be contacted through the Christchurch office, on (01943) 603209, or by e-mail to office@christchurch.org.uk.