West of Scotland Housing Association (WSHA) tenant and management committee member Clare Newton is knitting 600 chickens filled with cream eggs, following an explosion of demand on a community Facebook page.

Ayr tenant Clare knits the chickens to sell in her niece’s Newmilns shop, Alison Brown Creations, and saw demand skyrocket after Alison posted pictures of the £1 gifts online.

The pair saw it as a great opportunity to raise money for charity, and since Clare is a representative of Employers in Voluntary Housing (EVH), proceeds will go to Children’s Hospice Association Scotland (CHAS).

In March, Clare brought in a basket of chickens to sell at WSHA, with all proceeds sent to EVH. Now she is setting the bar higher and aims to raise £600.

Clare said: “Whenever I sit down I like to knit, and I’d feel idle if I didn’t so I’m quite happy with the requests for more chickens. I often bring in my knitted gifts to WSHA but I’ve been amazed by the positive response on social media from the community. Both EVH and CHAS are great causes to support and although I’ve got my work cut out for me this week knitting 600 chickens, I know I’m up to the challenge.”

CHAS provides the only hospice services in Scotland for children and young people who have life-shortening conditions for which there is no known cure. The charity currently supports over 415 families across Scotland.

West of Scotland chief executive, Lynne Donnelly, said: “The Association has had the good fortune of benefitting from Clare’s knitted gifts for years as well as her regular contribution to the Management Committee. Her generosity is admirable and we wish her all the best with her amazing target of 600 chickens.”