COMMUTERS using rail services along the Tyne Valley Railway Line were surprised with messages from angels on Monday morning. 

As a grand finale to a weekend of festive ‘yarnbombings’ across the district, the Rev. David Goodall, from Hexham Trinity Methodist Church, was out with volunteers decorating railway stations across the district with some of the 3,000 angels which have been knitted to spread messages of hope.

Each angel, created by local church and craft groups, has a festive message attached which is aimed at reminding people of the true meaning of Christmas.

From “Feed the World” to “Rethink Christmas”, the woolly messengers were positioned on platforms between Haltwhistle and Wylam.

“We were out at Hexham station from about 7am and they certainly raised a smile or two with the commuters on their way to work in the city,” said Mr Goodall.

“We even gave one to a train driver who set off with it in his part of the carriage.”

The idea was inspired by a project initiated by Methodist churches in North Tyneside last year, which saw 2,000 knitted angels left at train stations and public buildings.

And since Friday the angels have been distributed in their dozens across Tynedale at schools, town centres and at Hexham General Hospital.

“We went to Tesco on Monday morning as well,” said Mr Goodall.

“We left some on trolleys and in baskets and it all seems to have been very well received.

“The aim has always been to make people stop and think about what is really important at this time of year.”

Anyone who finds an angel is being encouraged to share a picture and the message online using the website www.tynedaleangels.net or #xmasangels on Twitter.