A knitter from Kent narrowly missed winning the top honour of the 'K Factor'.

Heather Leavers saw her knitted Harry Hill meerkat pipped at the post in the comedian’s competition, on the TV show TV Burp.

Former teacher Mrs Leavers, of St Michael’s, near Tenterden, was one of 10,000 people to accept the knitting challenge laid down by the comedian on his ITV show TV Burp.

Mrs Leavers, pictured above, entered the competition with a Harry meerkat - her knitted meerkats sell around the world - complete with high collar and glasses.

The meerkat made it through to the final five voted for by viewers but she was beaten to the top prize by a knitted duck with no wings, known as Peter.

Nevertheless, she got to meet the real Harry during filming of the tense final.

To read more about her day, see the Kentish Express, on sale Thursday.

Copies of Mrs Leavers’ meerkats are available from website, www.niftyknits.co.uk