AND they’re off. Knitting needles are clicking all over the York area in this year’s great scarf charity challenge.

Rachel Speight, of Ramshackle wool shop in Shambles, is hoping to raise £10,000 for Cancer Research UK, by surrounding York Racecourse in a multi-coloured line of scarves.

“I have friends and family who I have lost to cancer and friends who have survived cancer,” she said.

Last year, a similar challenge to line the city walls with pink scarves raised £6,000 for a breast cancer charity. Knitters of all ages from seven to 90 knitted 4,700 scarves.

This year, the scarves will be all different colours to represent different cancers and will line the 5km route of the Race For Life.

Non-knitters can donate via justgiving/knit-for-cancer-UK