Customers of Cornish wool shop come together to knit bobble hat Christmas tree for charity

Customers of Truro Wool lovingly handcrafted bobble hats to be donated to local charities. Credit: Truro Wool

Customers of a Cornish wool shop have come together to knit almost 150 bobble hats to create a Christmas tree supporting local charities.

Truro Wool received 148 knitted hats to put on its "Bobble Tree of Kindness" over the festive period.

The hats have now been donated to two local charities: St. Petroc's - which works to end homelessness in Cornwall, and the Cornwall Refuge Trust - which provides accommodation for anyone who has escaped domestic abuse.

Julie Cowan, owner of Truro Wool, said the project was a good opportunity to consider and help others at Christmas time.

She told ITV West Country: "If we can't be kind at Christmas, when can we be kind?

"[It] is the perfect opportunity for us to show that we are thinking about other people.. to just take a few minutes to let those know who are not having such a great time as we are that there are people out there thinking of them."

The concept is in its second year - with 215 handcrafted hats donated and shared last year. Julie delivered the hats to both St. Petrocs and The Refuge Trust on Christmas Eve.

Julie (far left), with the hats delivered to St. Petroc's. Credit: Truro Wool

Reflecting on why she had chosen to support the two charities, Julie said: "I live in the centre of Truro - so I'm very aware of the homeless issue in Truro and St. Petrocs do a fantastic job and do it day in, day out, year in, year out.

"The Refuge Trust, again as a local charity, I know that they can really struggle for physical support - its not just money that they need, but physical support.

"And something like a hat - it's just a really nice little gift to give to anybody isn't it?"

Charities St. Petroc's and The Refuge Trust received the handcrafted hats on Christmas Eve. Credit: Truro Wool

Julie added that the scheme was also beneficial to those who decided to make the hats.

She said: "People who knit and crochet, who do handicrafts, love to make for people.

"There's lots of studies that have been done that show when we do these handicrafts - if we're doing them as a gift to somebody, it makes us feel so much better within ourselves. We release the right endorphins."