SOME people use it to store the lawnmower, while others find it handy as a place to build stuff.

But one town's bookshop is using its "shed" for philosophising and knitting - except not at the same time!

After the success of a Philosophy Breakfast last year, a ten-week Saturday morning course discussing various philosophical ideals, the bookshop has decided to set up another group to run alongside this year's course.

But while Saturday mornings in Wivenhoe will be talking about the meaning of life and the notion of personal identity, that is strictly off-limits for the new Wednesday-morning knitting class, entitled Woolly Thoughts.

Ginny Waters, who runs Wivenhoe Bookshop, said: "The Philosophy Breakfast went so well last year, we've decided to do it again, but we wanted to build on it and do something else.

"We heard about this bookshop in Greece that had a knitting circle, and thought it would be perfect for our shed."

Helen Lee, who works at the bookshop, said the idea was that people should come along for a knit and a natter and that the philosophising should be left to the other group.

But Ginny added: "It's not that we've banned philosophy, it's just the kind of people who will be coming to Woolly Thoughts, I would imagine, are more interested in other things."

For more information, or to book a place on Woolly Thoughts, or the Philosophy Breakfast, call the Wivenhoe Bookshop on 01206 824050.