FAMOUS faces of Swindon will be returning to their hometown – in wool form.

A Swindon knitting group have recreated more than 30 celebrities and notable figures from the town’s past and present.

They include Billie Piper, star of hit BBC drama Collateral, F1 pit stop girl Melinda Messenger and Isambard Kingdom Brunel – with the railway pioneer knitted complete with his trademark top hat and cigar.

The dolls will feature in an upcoming exhibition at Swindon Museum and Art Gallery. Opening on March 28, The Characters – Tapestry of Swindon will see some of the woollen dolls hidden around the Old Town museum for children to find during their Easter holiday break.

Swindon Stich and Bitch’s Tracey Major, 50, called the project a “labour of love” – inspired after they found a “knitted village” on a group visit to a show at Alexandra Palace, London, last year.

“I suggested we knit the magic roundabout,” she said. But the suggestion went down like wet wool with the rest of the group. Instead, they hit upon the idea of knitting characters from Swindon’s past – and present.

Tracey said: “We wanted to select characters past and present, because it’s all part of the story of our town.

“We didn’t just want to choose ‘famous’ people to create, because so many other people of Swindon influence our lives and the town.”

Knitter Suzy Cowper, 45, said she had most enjoyed crocheting Michael Thomas – Swindon’s so-called “Harmonica Man” – who has been a regular sight on Regent Street.

“He’s not a celebrity, but I remember when we used to go into town he was always there playing outside Primark,” she said.

“There are people in our community who are like celebrities. You only have to say his name and everyone knows who you’re talking about.”

The show will also feature some of the forgotten faces of Swindon’s past. Among them is Bruce the Collecting Dog.

In the early 20th century, Bruce and his owner would tour Swindon pubs collecting cash for charities. Whenever a drinker tossed a coin into the collecting box tied around Bruce’s back, the dog would bark. Swindon Museum counts Bruce’s box among its collections.

So far, the knitters have created 21 of the dolls – with 10 left to make before the exhibition opens next month.

Once the exhibition ends, the figures will be sold to raise money for Swindon Mind. Tracey said: “We believe it’s a really good charity within Swindon and we know people who have used them.” Anyone interested in getting their hands on a woolly Julian Clary or Billie Piper should get in touch with the museum.

Sophie Cummings, curator at Swindon Museum and Art Gallery, said: “For all the treatments these artists will have had – all the BAFTAs, portraits, unauthorised biographies – I bet they’ve never been knitted before.”

The full list of knitted characters on display:

:: Julian Clary

:: Jamie Cox

:: Diana Dors

:: Justin Haywood

:: David Howell

:: Mark Lamar

:: Melinda Messenger

:: Gilbert O'Sullivan

:: Billie Piper

:: Isambard Kingdom Brunel

:: Michael Thomas

:: Edith New

:: Don Rodgers

:: Bob Kilby

:: Jaime King

:: Alfred Owen Williams

:: Harold Fleming

:: Maureen Penny

:: Fred Ferris

:: Steve Rowbotham

:: Desmond Morris

:: Tony Collins

:: Hamish Murray

:: Robert Turner Watkins

:: Bruce the collecting dog

:: D-low

:: Jahmene

:: Mable Stranks

:: Sophie Grigson

:: Thaila Zucchi

:: The Grey Lady

The Characters – Tapestry of Swindon is at Swindon Museum and Art Gallery from Wednesday, March 28. For more, visit: www.swindonmuseum.co.uk.