A BURY-based company has taken fundraising to new heights by launching a bobble hat into space.

The gravity-defying hat, created by JD Outdoors, will now be auctioned off as part of this year’s BBC Children in Need Appeal.

The aim of this national campaign is to unleash the nation’s sense of adventure by encouraging people to organise sponsored rambles and purchase a Countryfile Ramble Bobble Hat, all to raise money to support disadvantaged children and young people across the UK.

The hat was strapped to a camera, taking off from Ashbourne at 12 noon on its epic mission, before plummeting back to earth, landing west of Spilsby, Lincolnshire almost three hours later.

JD Outdoors CEO Lee Bagnall, said: “We are thrilled to be the first retailer to send a hat into space, especially as it is all in aid of a fantastic cause.

“This is the second year we have partnered with BBC Children in Need to help raise vital funds and awareness through the creation of our Countryfile Ramble Bobble Hat and we want to encourage people to get out and ramble wherever they can. We’re showing there are no restrictions to your rambling adventures, so what’s stopping you?

‘‘By launching the hat into space we hope to see sales soar above the £100,000 raised last year. The sky’s the limit!’’

The Countryfile Ramble Bobble Hat is available to buy for £7 from all JD Outdoors retailers in store and online including Blacks, Millets, Ultimate Outdoors and Go Outdoors.

JD Outdoors and BBC Children in Need are encouraging the nation to show their support for the charity by taking to social media and sharing a picture of them in the hat using the hashtag #HatsOn.

To support the campaign people are encouraged to share a picture in the hat using the #HatsOn and @blacks_online

To find out how you can organise your own fundraising ramble, download a pack from www.bbc.co.uk/countryfile.