THEY spent much of their short lives in cramped miserable conditions, forced to lay eggs in dark squalid cages - while dreaming of the outside world.

Life was short and miserable for these "working girls" who were rescued from a battery farm, where they lived six to a cage, no bigger than a piece of A3 paper.

But now these feathered females have been given a second lease of life at the Lee Valley Park Farm in Waltham Abbey.

Although they spend their days outdoors in luxury, some of the scars of their previous existance remain.

The escapees have plucked out many of their feathers through stress and Lee Valley Farm are asking big-hearted knitters to help.

Emma Davies, the Farm’s Duty Manager, explains: “These hens have spent all their life in appalling conditions, in the dark and in overcrowded cages and although they will adapt very well to their new life, we need some clothes to keep them warm until they have settled down and re-grown their feathers."

To encourage people to take part the farm is giving a family entrance ticket for the Farms to the person who sends in the best chicken jumper.

The pattern is available at www.leevalleypark.org.uk.

Please send your jumpers to Lee Valley Park Farms, Stubbins Hall Lane, Waltham Abbey, EN9 2EF.

The closing date for the competition is Monday 15th June, although donations of the jumpers will always be accepted. The best entries will be displayed on the Regional Park’s website.