A CRAFT enthusiast is helping keep the homeless warm this winter.

Victoria Nangle, 46, from Brighton, is knitting hats over the festive period.

Once finished they will be donated to Project Antifreeze, a charity that provide life-saving support for the city’s homeless population.

Victoria, who is an avid knitter, and can often be found at craft fairs around the county, has been handing out headwear to people on the streets for five years.

She said: “I was walking home one day and it just seemed horribly cold.

“I was walking past doorways full of people and it just seemed shocking.

“So I went home and grabbed a handful of the hats I’d made, then I went up to people living on the streets and asked them if they would like a handmade hat.”

Victoria decided to continue with her good deed but said she could not do so without the help and support of the community.

She said: “After the first or second year I realised I couldn’t really afford to buy all the yarn that I wanted to to make hats to give out, so I decided on a partnership with my craft fair customers.

“I would donate the labour for free and they would pay for the yarn.

“I decided to go through an official local charity to reassure customers who don’t know me.

“A friend recommended Off The Fence’s Antifreeze Project.”

Victoria said handing someone a hat in the afternoon and seeing it on their head later the same day gave her a sense of joy.

Project Antifreeze has thanked Victoria for her support.

Steve Brunton, manager of the project, said: “We appreciate all the donations that we get, but when they have that personal touch it means that much more, particularly at this time of year

“Anything that anyone can do to support us in terms of donations is great.”

Victoria will be happy to receive donations of hats over the Christmas period.

Anyone who wants to donate a hat to her can visit her at the Friends Meeting House in Ship Street, Brighton, today between 11am and 4.30pm, or at New England House Open Studios, Brighton, between December 7 and 9.

She also takes orders through Facebook and Etsy and can be found by searching Nangleknits on either website.

To find out more about Project Antifreeze visit http://www.offthefence.org.uk/antifreeze/