A woman who devised a board game to boost her village’s annual straw race has again put her inventiveness to good use – this time in aid of Manorlands and other good causes.

Oxenhope resident, Jill Buch-anan, has produced a smaller, portable version of a game called Cross Sticks.

She explained: “It’s a dice game with coloured sticks, and the winner is the person who gets rid of their sticks first.

“I got the idea from a handmade wooden version, which a friend of mine had made especially for her.

“My game is a smaller unit, which is meant for playing if a person is travelling on a train, boat or plane. It doesn’t weigh much.

“Obviously, it can be played at home as well, but it can easily fit into a pocket or handbag. I’ve designed it as a charitable souvenir from Yorkshire, so it can be sold by various charities.

“For example, on Saturday afternoon it will be sold at Haworth Parish Church Christmas fair to raise money for the church restoration fund. And it will be available in the Sue Ryder shop in Haworth, raising money for Manorlands.”

She said she was happy with how her travel-sized incarnation of the game has turned out, adding one person who has played it has already described it as “addictive”.

People can obtain the games from the Haworth Sue Ryder store from December 9 in return for a minimum donation of £3.50.

Jill, who lives in Marsh Lane and is a former Keighley News Haworth correspondent, added she has so far assembled 100 of these games, and paid tribute to the businesses that have provided her with the necessary materials.

“I’ve been generously supported with my venture by local companies who’ve given me many of the parts I needed,” she said. “I’d like to say a big thank you to Stells, OPM, Martins Packaging and Manorlands for the printing.”