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A woman from Forest Town has been busy with a team of volunteers who have joined forces to celebrate the Tour of Britain’s return to the district with a crochet cycle display.

Debbie Williamson, from Forest Town, was joined by fellow residents, Jane Freeman, Hillary Bramwell, Linda Shutt, Anna Wietrzychowska, Kate Thompson and Jill Poole to complete the cycling display, ahead of the Tour of Britain visiting the area on Thursday, September 8.

Debbie, aged 56, said: “My interest began three or four years ago, when I joined a crochet class.

“I sort of knew what to do, but could not read patterns at the time.

Debbie said she is thankful for Mansfield District Council's donation of a bike. Debbie Williamson is pictured alongside Forest Town Community councillors.

“I met some ladies there and we had a huge poppy cascade with about 9,000 poppies on and then a big Christmas tree with granny squares.

“When that was dismantled, they made blankets for the homeless. There has always been a community theme to the crafting process.

“I did all sorts of crafting through lockdown and began doing random acts of crochet kindness, where we would leave hearts and butterflies for people to find.

“Then I was approached about making postbox toppers for Sands’ baby loss awareness week.

Debbie was joined by Jane Freeman, Hillary Bramwell, Linda Shutt, Anna Wietrzychowska, Kate Thompson and Jill Poole.

“I did a couple and it made me want to start doing these locally. I have done about a dozen now.

Mansfield residents are getting ready to welcome the Tour of Britain

And Debbie said she wanted to get involved in the visit of the Tour of Britain.

She said: “I put a post on Forest Town Community Group for any donations, such as a bike or yarn. I also wanted to pull in a few local people and be collaborative on this project.

“Mansfield Council donated the bike. I measured the sections, took photos and messaged the ladies and they were brilliant.

“All the pieces were made, then a friend and I spent a day putting the sections together. It is amazing to have worked with local people, showing our support for the Tour.”

As well a crocheted yellow bike, Debbie has also created a postbox topper of a cyclist with a broken bike: explaining: “Cedric the cyclist came a cropper, fell off and broke his bike on his way through Forest Town during the Tour, but is still smiling and waving.”

Forest Town's crafty community unveil cycling display