TODAY'S the day when people across Hampshire will be doing their bit in a Christmas knit for ITV’s Text Santa extravaganza.

It's Christmas Jumper Day today and people will be donning their woollies for a good cause.

Schoolchildren and people heading to work today are set to pull on their festive jumpers to raise money for Text Santa.

And we want to see your pictures - send them to newsdesk@dailyecho.co.uk and be part of our special woolly gallery.

And this year all your favourite stars will be too in a three-hour TV spectacular.

Three charities will benefit this year from the generosity of ITV viewers - Macmillan Cancer Support, Make-A-Wish® UK and Save the Children.

Highlights include Coronation Street Stars as they travel ‘Back To The Future,’ legend Joan Collins bringing a touch of class to a specially written sketch for Benidorm and Downton Abbey’s Lord Grantham looking for the perfect Father Christmas.

Fronting the three-hour, live, fun-filled extravaganza are a mix of presenters including Christine Bleakley, Alesha Dixon, Caroline Flack, Amanda Holden, Paddy McGuinness, Stephen Mulhern, Olly Murs, Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby - all of them doing their bit in a Christmas Knit.

As always there’s live music, including a sing-a-long with Emmerdale stars and a special performance from Little Mix.

All day the ITV schedule will be all about Text Santa with special one-off editions of ITV favourites The Chase, Tipping Point, Jeremy Kyle and 1000 Heartbeats.

The fundraising has already started for many, but you can get a kit crammed with ideas from ITV.com/textsanta.

Why not go to your local pub quiz in a Christmas jumper, or take part in the main event by donating to Text Santa tonight?

There will also be an eBay auction of key memorabilia to raise funds.

The appeal hopes to raise more than ever before, with money raised going towards funding nurses and other essential workers to support people with cancer, granting wishes to enrich children's lives, and giving hope to families in difficulty at Christmas.

Text Santa is now in its fifth year and has so far raised over £21million for UK charities.

100% of the money will be shared equally amongst the Text Santa charities.

All donations to Save the Children’s international work will be matched pound for pound by the UK Government up to £5 million.

Last year the money raised through Text Santa helped to provide 45,000 hours of specialist care to help young people fight cancer, support over 3,600 people suffering from dementia, and provide 51,650 hours of care to children and their families.

Supporting Text Santa 2015 are Primark, who have donated £1.50 for every Christmas Jumper sold between December 1 and 17.

Other appeal partners include Papa John’s, Vodafone, Twentieth Century Fox and department store Liberty.

To give £5 text SANTA5 to 70760; to give £10 text SANTA10 to 70760; to donate by phone call 0300 123 6060; or donate online at itv.com, stv.tv or u.tv.