Yahoo Lifestyle Hundreds of knitted rats needed for exhibition
A woman in Devon has called for help to make 500 crochet rats as part of a knitted World War Two 3D exhibition.
Becks Pearson, from Lympstone, Devon, said the crochet animals were wanted as part of The Longest Yarn exhibition depicting Britain at war which would tour the UK in 2025.
Speaking to BBC Radio Devon, Ms Pearson said life-size models from the war would be crocheted alongside the exhibition, including land girl Daphne Hedges who moved to Devon to catch rats between 1944 and 1946.
"She came from Suffolk, which is where they're knitting the full sized land girl. But I want the rats that are going to accompany her on the exhibition to come from Devon," Ms Pearson added.
Exhibition in Plymouth
"The biggest rat caught in Devon by a land girl was 19.5in (48cm), nose to tail."
The former Royal Navy officer said the crochet rats would tour the UK alongside the knitted model of Ms Hedges.
She said the rats would be sold in pop-up shops across the country with proceeds going to veteran charities.
Ms Pearson said former land girl Maud, 98, had been involved in knitting rats for the exhibition.
"[The rats] have to be black, grey, white or brown.
"They've got to have a decent length tail because we have got to be able to hang them by a string by their tail.
"We've got to have them all made by the end of March."
Ms Pearson said the exhibition would be on display in Plymouth in June.
Follow BBC Devon on X, Facebook and Instagram. Send your story ideas to spotlight@bbc.co.uk.
