TWO women are cashing cheques for charities after their lease-a-sheep project has started turning a profit.

Annie Musgrove and Jane Allberry started the Meadow Farm Wool Project on a smallholding near Wellington six months ago, and are now able to donate money raised from it to brain injury charity Headway, and Teenage Cancer Trust.

Through the project, Annie and Jane are leasing a sheep to keen knitters, who are then sent balls of Jacob wool.

Jane said: “We are delighted that there has been such a positive interest in the project and we are now in profit. This has enabled us to send our first cheques to the charities and keep a reserve to pay for spinning this year's fleeces.”

Both Jane and Annie’s youngest sons have been helped by the two charities they support and they are keen to find a sustainable way of supporting them without doing any more sponsored runs or walks.

Before starting the project, the wool from the Jacob sheep was going to waste or being sold as insulation material. Keen knitter Jane was impressed with the lovely fleeces and persuaded Annie to consider processing them.

The project has proven popular with knitters from across the globe, with balls of wool being sent to France and California.

“We are already taking orders for our rent-a-sheep gift packs for Christmas and plan to increase the range of natural shades available this season,” Jane added. “There is a huge interest from people wanting to trace their wool from field to jumper.”

For more information, go to www.mfwoolproject.co.uk or email contact@mfwoolproject.co.uk.