This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/england/kent/8016362.stm

The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Knitted village put up for sale Knitted village put up for sale
(about 3 hours later)
A knitted replica of a Kent village with 100 features including teenagers smoking in a bus shelter has been put up for sale.A knitted replica of a Kent village with 100 features including teenagers smoking in a bus shelter has been put up for sale.
The model of Mersham, near Ashford, has been knitted by members of the village's 40-strong Afternoon Club over the past 23 years.The model of Mersham, near Ashford, has been knitted by members of the village's 40-strong Afternoon Club over the past 23 years.
The group has raised about £10,000 for their village hall by exhibiting it.The group has raised about £10,000 for their village hall by exhibiting it.
But the creation is now to be split up and sold off because it has become too large to be transported.But the creation is now to be split up and sold off because it has become too large to be transported.
Since 1986, thousands of hours of handiwork have gone into the village.Since 1986, thousands of hours of handiwork have gone into the village.
Creations also include the primary school, church, both pubs, the shop, and residents playing cricket.Creations also include the primary school, church, both pubs, the shop, and residents playing cricket.
There are also many houses, complete with flowers in the gardens and cars on the roads, to capture a slice of everyday life of the village, which dates back to the Saxons and has a population of about 1,000.There are also many houses, complete with flowers in the gardens and cars on the roads, to capture a slice of everyday life of the village, which dates back to the Saxons and has a population of about 1,000.
'Good for village''Good for village'
The preparation involved taking pictures and mocking up cardboard templates of the properties and objects.The preparation involved taking pictures and mocking up cardboard templates of the properties and objects.
Next month the knitted village will be publicly displayed so people can buy their favourite object, with proceeds going to the local hall.Next month the knitted village will be publicly displayed so people can buy their favourite object, with proceeds going to the local hall.
Afternoon Club member Joyce McDonagh, 82, a retired market researcher, said: "It will be a shame to see it all broken up but it has become something of an elephant.Afternoon Club member Joyce McDonagh, 82, a retired market researcher, said: "It will be a shame to see it all broken up but it has become something of an elephant.
"Most of the members are now of pensionable age and we haven't got the men to lift the stuff."Most of the members are now of pensionable age and we haven't got the men to lift the stuff.
"It wouldn't be so bad if there were just two or three items but there are at least 100 now. It's massive and that's the problem.""It wouldn't be so bad if there were just two or three items but there are at least 100 now. It's massive and that's the problem."
Another club member, 80-year-old Margaret Goldup, a retired local shop assistant, said: "We've gained so much pleasure from it over the years, particularly from taking it round different places to exhibit.Another club member, 80-year-old Margaret Goldup, a retired local shop assistant, said: "We've gained so much pleasure from it over the years, particularly from taking it round different places to exhibit.
"People all want to come up and take a look and they say things like, 'Oh, I live there. That's my house, but where's my cat'. Over the years we have raised £10,000 for the village hall through donations so it has been good for the village.""People all want to come up and take a look and they say things like, 'Oh, I live there. That's my house, but where's my cat'. Over the years we have raised £10,000 for the village hall through donations so it has been good for the village."