AN embroidered record of Dorchester's history has found a permanent home in the foyer of the town's Corn Exchange.

A special ceremony was held to mark the relocation of the Dorchester Tapestry, a collection of seven panels recording the town's history created by local stitchers.

The tapestry was created in 2005 as part of Dorchester's 700th anniversary celebrations since it received the town charter and was made the county town.

Local stitchers spent around 16 months working on it, with around a million stitches going into the final product. The project was overseen by Bridport artist Suzanne Finch and the stitchers were helped by pupils at St Osmund's and Dorchester Middle schools.

Since their completion the panels have been temporarily located in several places around the town, including the library, Dorchester Arts Centre and the Magistrates' Room at the Corn Exchange.

The stitchers who worked so hard on the project were keen to have them displayed in a permanent location for Dorchester residents to enjoy. The ladies formed their own group, The Dorchester Stitchers, to raise around £1,000 to have the tapestry properly hung in the Corn Exchange foyer with protective screens to preserve the works.

Dorchester Stitchers chairman Rosemary Gameson said: "We are very pleased they will be there permanently now.

"It's a proper home for them in a place that is used a lot and people will be able to pop in and enjoy them."

Mrs Gameson also paid tribute to the Dorchester Rotary and Lions Clubs, who helped with their fundraising efforts.

She added: "We formed the Dorchester Stitchers specially and we intend to keep it together and do other projects."

Mayor of Dorchester David Barrett said: "They are marvellous, the fact that local people can come and see them all together in situ in a properly hung environment should be a great plus for the town.

"They are really beautiful objects, it took a long time for them to be completed and the work tabulates the history of Dorchester.

"I congratulate everybody involved, they have done a tremendous job, the ladies deserve a lot of thanks for providing it for the town."