DROITWICH town centre has exploded with colour over the weekend as part of a community fundraising project organised by the Rotary Club to ‘yarnbomb’ Droitwich.

Members of the club, together with members of the Droitwich Arts Network, Sparkles WI, and friends and family members including one grandmother in Serbia, have teamed up to create more than 300 metres of knitting, which is currently decorating St Andrew’s Square.

Every bit of street furniture from lamp-posts and bus stops to planters and benches, has been covered in technicolour wool, with bobble hats for all the saltworkers on the town’s statue, as well as the letter box, and bunting and bobbles hanging overhead.

Two bicycles have also been covered, which will be on display in the window of Droitwich Library.

Keen knitter and outgoing Rotary president Helen Karakashian, came up with the idea to yarnbomb St Andrew’s Square to raise money for Brain Tumour Research, and helped install all the knitting on Saturday.

She said: “It was brilliant, absolutely brilliant, it’s brought Droitwich alive. Everybody was smiling, laughing, it was a lovely atmosphere. People have really enjoyed it, it’s just tickled their senses I think.

“I just read about it. There’s a group in London that started doing it for a bit of fun. Usually it’s put up illegally, but because it’s in a square I didn’t think that was very responsible, so I got permission from the council. Bob Brookes the mayor at the time thought it was a great idea.

“I love knitting. I’ve knitted since I was three. I’ve exhibited around the UK with my knitting. I thought it would be a great way of getting people together and making people aware of Rotary and what it does. There was a real buzz, everyone’s looking at it, and talking about it. People have really enjoyed it, it’s just tickled their senses I think.”

The yarnbombing was officially unveiled by Councillor Bob Brookes with town crier Edgar Harwood making an announcement, and it will stay up for two weeks, before being carefully removed, washed, and made into blankets, for use at Maggs Day Centre for homeless and vulnerable people in Worcester.

Meanwhile, the Rotary Club is hoping to raise £4,000 for Brain Tumour Research from the event, with collecting tins position in independent shops around the town centre and Emm’s and Sew Much More on Droitwich High Street collecting cheques made payable to ‘Rotary Club Droitwich Spa’.

There is also a Just Giving page at justgiving.com/Helen-Karakashian where people can donate.