It is a spectacular festival which sees six Wayland churches taken over by knitted creations.

And the second Bloom and Yarn Festival is hoping to emulate the 3,000 victors which took in the woolly wonders in 2015.

The theme for this year's four-day event is The Creation, and people can expect to see life-size farm animals, exotic creatures and knitted and fresh flowers.

For the past two years, hundreds of volunteers from across the country have been sending their knitted squares to the festival's organisers.

The oldest volunteer knitter is 94-year-old John who lives in Lancaster.

Wool from the festival two years ago is also reused and the patches are then put together to make the animals.

Artistic director Lois Gill, who is a craftswoman and three-times medallist at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show, said: 'We put a plea out for wool and people have been very generous. We have some very efficient and quick knitters.'

The festival takes place from Friday, July 7 until Monday July 10, when people can visit the six historic venues which have their own theme linked to creation, including an undersea world, the Garden of Eden and from darkness to light.

The churches are, St Margaret's in Beckles; St Peter and St Paul's, Griston; St Martin's, Thompson; Holy Trinity, Great Hockham; St Bartholomew's, Stow Bedon, and Holy Cross, Caston.

Funds raised from the event will be split between the churches to ensure they remain central to village life - with £40,000 raised in 2015.

Mrs Gill added: 'It is keeping the churches open - that is what we are trying to do. As church goers we are quite a small group.

'The festival does pull the communities together. It is knitting the community together.'

The event has taken two years to organise and constructing the displays has taken a year.

Different refreshments will be served at each church and will include lunches and homemade cakes.

Visitors will also be able to shop for hand crafted gifts and mementos at the Blossom and Yarn Market Place.

Earlybird tickets are available for £6 or £8 on the door and under 16s go free.

For more contact Karen Fitch on 07909510718, email tickets@blossomandyarn.co.uk or click here