IT MIGHT sound a bit woolly but a Barnsley entrepreneur is on a mission to get men knitting.

Lewis Ryan, 36, has been creating a community of knitters across Barnsley for over a year after he decided to launch ManKnit, which is a website providing keen and novice knitters with all they need to navigate the needles.

He secured support from Launchpad - a programme which provides help and support to individuals looking to turn their business ideas into a commercial reality across the Sheffield City Region.

Lewis's story began ten years ago when Lewis asked his mum to knit him a rug. She said it would take her months, if not a year, so Lewis decided to learn how to knit himself.

He noticed there was a lack of male knitters and keen to dispel the stereotype that it was just a female interest, ventured into a new business idea. He now regularly hosts workshops for knitters of all levels and is pioneering an online store where he sells bespoke knitting patterns, knitting kits and even a specially developed ManKnit yarn which is tailored to his own specifications, spun in Yorkshire and dyed by hand.

Lewis, of Tune Street, Wombwell, said: "When I first started learning and attending classes it raised a few eyebrows and I think many men are put off from taking up the hobby.

"I wanted to challenge many of the perceptions associated with knitting and encourage more people to give it try. This helped to sow the seeds of ManKnit.

"The help and support I received from my business advisor at Launchpad, has proved to be invaluable in the evolution of ManKnit. The programme provided the support and advice I needed and also helped me to explore new avenues within the business.

"Knitting is a hobby which can be very therapeutic and can provide a creative outlet. My goal is to get people of all ages and from all walks of life interested in the craft.

"There is such a variety of people who attend my Knit and Natter workshops in Barnsley, from older women who want to learn more skills, to male builders and engineers who use it as a way of relaxing after a hard day's work."