CRAFTERS are being encouraged to create bundles of colourful, woollen hearts for a mysterious Yorkshire Dales project.

The challenge has gone out to people across the dales to get out their needles, scissors and wool for a visitor campaign being plotted by the Dales Tourism Network (DTN).

Although exact details of the campaign, including the launch, are being kept under wraps for now, organiser Susan Briggs is appealing for keen crafters to knit, felt or crochet as many hearts as possible between now and March 16.

It follows on from the success of the Tour de France knitted jersey bunting last year.

Mrs Briggs said: “People loved seeing the jumper bunting last year and over 160 dales businesses produced sheep in yellow jerseys that really captured the imagination and became a talking point for visitors as they returned home and recounted their experiences to friends and family.

“This is why we’re plotting another quirky campaign that will make visitors smile.

“So with that in mind we’re appealing for anybody to produce brightly coloured woollen hearts up to 30 centimetres high and robust enough to be hung up. They can even be cut out of old woollen jumpers if knitting isn’t a strong point.”

The hearts can be taken to Masham Community Office, Nidderdale Plus in Pateley Bridge, Tourist Information Centres at Leyburn, Settle, Pateley Bridge, Ripon and Knaresborough, Craftworkshop, Sedbergh, Yorkshire Dales National Parks Centres at Aysgarth Falls, Malham and Grassington, Dales Countryside Museum at Hawes, Cottontail Crafts in Settle, and community offices in Leyburn, Reeth, Colburn, Hawes and Richmond.

More details, including simple knitting patterns, can be found at; www.dalestourism.com/hearts