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Surfing Santa spotted in the Yorkshire Dales

Suzanne Excell A knitted Father Christmas standing on a surfboard floating over the water on the beck in Hawes. Suzanne Excell
The 7ft (2.1m) tall, knitted Santa now rides the waves on the beck in the Yorkshire Dales village of Hawes

Father Christmas on a surfboard has been unveiled as the latest creation of a group of yarnbombers.

The 7ft (2.1m) high figure, wearing red shorts rather than full length trousers, stands on a surfboard above the beck in village of Hawes in the Yorkshire Dales.

The Hawes yarnbombers, whose previous efforts include a woolly version of Wallace and Gromit, said they began work in secret in August.

The group have raised more £18,500 in donations for Yorkshire Air Ambulance thanks to their knitted and crocheted creations.

The Hawes Yarnbombers are a group of six friends who create art installations all over the town.

Since their formation, during the Covid lockdown, they have made knitted scenes from Shrek and friends to Alice and Wonderland.

But for their latest installation, they wanted to sprinkle some festive cheer over the village.

Jane Barratt, one of the knitters, said: "A member of the Hawes Christmas Lights Group has always had a dream of having a Santa surfing over the beck and she caught us in a weak moment and asked if we might be able to make one."

Suzanne Excell A knitted reindeer is pictured next to a bench on which sits one of the knitters and a smaller, knitted Santa, while the other knitters crouch and stand nearbySuzanne Excell
The Hawes yarnbombers (pictured) have also made a reindeer and smaller Santa to sit in the village.

The surfing Santa Claus has been made out of a wire mesh, stuffed with foam and recycled plastic bottles, to help him keep his shape in the face of rain and spray, then covered in a mixture of knitting and crochet.

He is joined by a smaller knitted version and a reindeer in the centre of the village.

They have been living in Ms Barratt's kitchen, above the dog bed, for the past few months.

Suzanne Excell A knitted reindeer faces the camera, with a knitted elf and sack of toys on its backSuzanne Excell
The group have spent four months coming up with their woolly creations

The knitted ventures were originally intended just for the enjoyment of the town but quickly became a way to raise money for charity.

Suzanne Excell, another member of the group, said: "We did it at first just for the fun to make people smile, but we kept on being offered donations, in pubs for example, for the work we'd done".

The group have recently been recognised for their fundraising efforts, having received a Community Fundraising Award from the Yorkshire Air Ambulance.

Ms Excell adds: "Doing this is just so good for our mental health and we love working as a community. It's then a bonus to feel we're doing such good for such a good cause."

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