A GROUP of guerrilla knitters are planning their next covert operation – and this time are appealing to the public to help.

In 2012 a group of anonymous knitters struck the centre of Northallerton under cover of darkness, trying woollen effigies of royals and corgis to lampposts and decorative shrubs.

A small tag indicated they had been created by Northallerton’s “ninja knitters and samurai stitchers”.

Now the group – who wish to remain anonymous – are planning their next yarn campaign.

They plan to hide knitted characters from children’s literature and nursery rhymes in shop windows up and down Northallerton High Street for World Book Day.

The knitted characters will remain in windows for several weeks to allow children to hunt for the characters.

Entry forms will be available from Northallerton Library and the winner will be able to keep their favourite woolly figure, while the rest will be auctioned off for charity.

A spokeswoman for the group said: “World Book Day is Thursday, March 6 and we’re almost set. However, if any avid knitters feel like joining in, then we would gratefully receive characters right up to the end of February.”

Anyone wanting to provide knitted characters, or businesses wanting to take part in the trail, can email: angelasmith2003@gmail.com and a representative from the group will arrange a “woolly rendezvous” to pick up the characters.