Parishioners at a north-east church have launched an unusual fundraiser for Syrian refugees – a sheep hunt around local shops.
In Banff, 22 shopkeepers have agreed to hide knitted sheep in their store windows as part of a charity treasure hunt.
The idea has been led by worshipers at Banff Parish Church, who are raising money to support Syrian refugees, as well as for a local kidney dialysis cause and Parkinson’s UK.
Janet Simpson, one of the organisers, said the team wanted it to be a “community event”. She said: “The fundraiser is a Sheep Hunt – 22 shopkeepers in Banff have agreed to ‘hide’ in their window for the next few weeks a named sheep which entrants will have to find.
“The sheep were knitted by ladies in the congregation and are now grazing in a number of shop windows in Banff. All you have to do is find the sheep and add its name to the entry form.”
Entry forms are available from the church and the winners will be drawn from all the correct entries at Messy Church in Banff Parish Church hall on Friday, December 11.
There will be one prize awarded for under-14s and another for over-14s.
Banff and King Edward Churches have been fundraising for Syrian refugees with various events and collections.
Staff, parents and children of King Edward Funday School and primary school took part in a dance-a-thon which raised more than £550, as well as a Sunday lunch in Banff which raised a further £500.
Earlier this year councillors in Aberdeenshire unanimously backed a proposal to house 50 refugee families fleeing war-torn Syria. No date has been set for when the families will arrive, or where they will be houses.