GET your knitting needles at the ready and help to knit a way out of poverty for women with Oxfam next week.

Oxfam in Tavistock is hosting three days of knitting to raise money and awareness for International Women's Day as part of the charity's countrywide Get Together event.

International Women's Day, on Thursday March 8, aims to raise money and awareness to help build better futures for women and their families.

Manager at Oxfam in Tavistock Jackie Theobald said: 'We're trying to raise awareness of women in poverty in Tavistock, the UK and internationally. It's about education. Women tend to be the carers — if we can educate women, they can educate the children.'

As little as £46 raised from the events can save the life of a mother and her child by enabling Oxfam to train a midwife in Ghana — and £135 trains five teachers in Mali who can teach more than 250 girls and provide a whole generation with skills to work their way out of poverty.

For the event, staff at the shop in Tavistock are inviting people to join them and knit a square or two, which will be crocheted into blankets to be sold.

Knitters can pop into the shop on March 8, 9 and 10 to knit, chat and share tips.

Staff at the shop are also appealing for donations of knitting needles and wool for the event, which can be brought into the shop in West Street or donated to Soft Touch Needlecrafts behind the Pannier Market.

Oxfam staff expressed thanks to Soft Touch Needlecrafts for all its support.

The charity is always in need of volunteers to work in various areas of the shop. Anyone interested, who could spare a few hours a week, can contact the shop on 01822 615534.