A yarn of Olympic proportions... Mystery knitter attaches 50-yard-long scarf featuring woollen athletes to pier

Residents of Saltburn, in North Yorkshire, are scratching their heads today after a mysterious 'yarnbomber' wrapped the town's pier with a 50-yard scarf stretching out along the railings.

The impressive garment features woollen athletes competing in various Olympic events, from synchronised swimmers to rowers and cyclists, and has delighted young and old alike as the town discusses the good yarn.



But the mysterious creator - who has struck before - remains anonymous, leaving everyone speculating on their identity and motives.



Making a splash: Figures on the knitted Olympic tribute include a swimmer and a gymnast on a pommel horse



Mystery of Olympic proportions: The 'yarnbomber' has given a colourful flourish to the pier in Saltburn-by-the-Sea near Teesside

Row the boat: The yarn represents almost all of the Olympic events

In the past, the ‘Saltburn Yarnbomber’ has tied scarves and knitted figures to various parts of the town centre - to lamp-posts, railings and buildings - and outside the library.

This is considered an act of 'yarnbombing', where knitted items are attached to public places as a kind of woollen graffiti.

Now people are flocking to see the new addition on the seaside town’s historic pier, and every few yards, a different Olympic sport portrayed, all with their own little knitted athletes.

Mother-of-three Susan Day, 55, of Guisborough, was one of many people stopped in their tracks by the long and winding art form.

She said: 'It’s impressive - at least 50m long. It must have taken someone ages to create.'

Lesley Ash, a 55-year-old housewife from nearby Redcar, said: 'I’m a keen knitter myself. I think there’s so much work and effort gone into this, it must have taken an awful lot of time.'

Sharp shooter: All Olympic disciplines are covered int he seaside display of knitwork by a mystery artist

2012! The artwork is exquisitely detailed, with cute touches such as the stitched flag shown here

This yarn goes on and on... The 50-yard decoration seems to be a mystery tribute to the upcoming Olympics

The scarf is probably causing the biggest stir in the yarn world since comedian Harry Hill popped onto the screen with his famous 'Knitted Character', who occasionally pops up just as mysteriously in the background of other TV shows.

Famous yarns: Harry Hill with his co-star, the Knitted Character

Ruth Brockbank, 65, a retired local government officer, of Hutton Rudby added: 'Whoever has done this has taken a lot of trouble to do it and everybody is talking about it.'

Linda Arkless, 31, a mother of 12, of Marske, said: 'I think this is amazing - they must have been doing this for weeks. I could never do this myself.'



Saltburn locals are now trying to work out who is responsible, and if it is by the same knitter who has decorated the town previously.



Last year, Saltburn’s 150th anniversary was suggested as the inspiration.

A 6ft long scarf, complete with attached books, was left outside the library, and had a note attached signed 'the Yarn Junki' - but with no clue as to the identity of the knitter.

Other scarves with different designs appeared around the town and three teddy bears had a tea party on the town’s Marine Parade picnic area.

Weight and sea: A woollen weightlifter flexes his muscles on the promenade, while a gymnast also makes up part of the display

