Computer games, mp3 players and mobile phones are just a few of the coolest toys on offer to modern kids. But at Park Junior School in Stonehouse however, pupils have become engrossed in a more traditional activity - knitting. James Davis went along to find out more about a pastime usually associated with grannies and Christmas sweaters.

WHO would believe that bad-boy rapper Snoop Doggy Dogg and a Stonehouse school would have anything in common?

But when the hip-hop star was spotted with needles and wool in hand, a connection via the age-old craft of knitting was realised.

Boys and girls of all ages have been turning up by the dozen for the school's twice-weekly knitting club, and for those involved the activity is more than the latest craze.

The club, funded by the school's Parent Teacher Association, was started by learning support worker Patricia Libbitor. "I enjoy knitting myself and a lot of children enjoy making things so this is a good opportunity for them to do this," she said.

"They all start off making a square which is then sewn onto a group blanket."

Once the basics are mastered, children can move on to more advanced patterns.

"The most popular is a juggling ball, but we also have children making teddy bears and bags" said teacher and helper Pat Britton.

With more than 40 regular knitters, enthusiasm for the lunchtime club has been growing since it was started a year ago.

"Hand knitting has taken off again, but we didn't expect so many", said Mrs Britton.

"Just looking at the concentration on their faces you can see they love it. Our expectations have been doubled."

Explaining how he got involved, nine-year-old Kieran Marshall said: "It was supposed to be a joke but after the first day I thought it was brilliant," he said. "It gives you time to chill out and calm down, and you learn different skills."

In between stitches seven-year-old Danielle Jones explained how she hopes to be knitting for years. "If I have kids, I am going to make them a jumper", she said.

Knitting has become the latest craze to hit Hollywood, and stars including Julia Roberts, Uma Thurman, Antonio Banderas are all keen knitters.

Beverley Hall, assistant manager at Stroud needlecraft shop Sew & So, said more younger people were coming to her Lansdown store.

"Wool has definitely taken off again and a lot more schools and children have started knitting," she said.

In March this year, the SNJ reported how a popular knitting club had set up in Stroud's Golden Fleece pub.