DESPITE the warm weather, one tree in Cirencester is dressed for a chilly winter after students sewed old cardigans and scarves around the branches as part of a new trend.

Yarn bombing is a type of graffiti or street art featuring colourful displays of knitted or crocheted yarn rather than paint or chalk.

Not seen before in the town, Cirencester College textile teachers and students have adopted the craze and have been busy for two days in the Abbey Grounds, adorning one large tree with half-finished cardigans, old scarves and more knitted items.

Textiles teacher at the college Janet Parkinson said she hoped the tree would stay decorated all through the summer.

"We'll take it off after and bring it up to the college," she said. "I've started thinking about ideas to develop this into the future. Next time we could do a sponsored knit before hand and raise some money. This time, it was just a bit of fun."

While some students sewed items onto the branches, others sat on the grass knitting together more items to attach to the tree. Janet added that already they have had people coming up to them and asking about the tree and taking photos.

The yarn bombed tree is in the Abbey Grounds in Cirencester near the bandstand.