A flock of chickens are the new cocks of the walk - strutting about in  hand-made outfits to keep them warm during the winter.

Chickens at a community project started to shed too many feathers in the summer, leaving their carers fearful of the bracing icy weather.

So residents banded together to keep their feathered friends happily clucking and 40 chicken jackets were born.

The birds now pace about snug and cosy thanks to the eggheads who cracked the  idea from Housing 21, at Walton House, and Age Concern's Natty Knitters. Sarah Lewis is from the Grass Roots allotments project on Marlborough Drive, in Failsworth, which the chickens call home.

She said: “When Housing 21 found out that our chickens were losing too many feathers they decided to get a group together to knit them jackets to keep them warm.

Their feathers grew back a bit but the chickens still love the jackets. “

Mike Beaman, from Housing 21, added: “It may be a bit of a culture shock for the chickens but at least they will be kept warm during the winter.” Tweet