KNITTERS left a festive surprise for residents by adorning post boxes with crafted festive scenes.

The Witham U3A Knit and Natter Group worked with the Essex Knitters and Stitchers to create the seasonal scenes before leaving them on post boxes in Witham over night.

Pat Matthews, U3A group leader, said: "The good folk of Witham had no idea it was happening. Their surprise at finding the scenes is all part of the fun.

"It has been amazing to see the creations come to life. The knitters have such great ideas and most have worked from no patterns at all to produce excellent scenes."

Eleven post boxes in total were decorated with scenes ranging from nativity to penguins to Father Christmas.

One is on the library box and the others are at The Grove, in Newland Street, Newland Street Gershwin Boulevard, Spa Road, the Wulvesford shops, Witham sorting office, the railway station, Morrisons, Armond Road, Dorothy Sayers Drive and Honeysuckle Way.

Members of both organisations spent hours knitting and sewing the scenes to raise money for Farleigh Hospice with each display including a label encouraging people to donate through to the shop in Newland Street.