ALMOST two years hard work is coming to fruition for a group of Wyre Forest lacemakers working on a wall hanging for Worcestershire Royal Hospital.

Members of Wyre Forest Lacemakers - which celebrates its 10th anniversary this year - spent two months applying for funding for the unique 4ft by 4ft 6in hanging, which features a scene from the Wyre Forest, before they began the task of creating it.

The piece, which will be hung in the woodland floor of the hospital, is currently having finishing touches added - and has been worked on by more than 100 people from across the county.

A host of people who are not members of the group helped to make it by taking part in demonstrations at Bewdley Museum and Bewdley Fringe Festival, as well as last year's Worcestershire Skills on Show festival.

Project manager and membership secretary for the 30 to 35-strong group, Mary Coleman, said: "It must have been about 18 months ago that we had the idea of making the hanging and submitted a design to the hospital authority, which was looking for local groups to make hangings.

"We meet once a month on the third Tuesday of every month as a group - but have been working on the hanging for the last six weeks at one of our members homes."

The 60-year-old, who was one of the founder members of Wyre Forest Lacemakers, added it had achieved almost £700 of funding from the Elmley Arts Foundation and Worcestershire County Council, which had covered the cost of extra room hire and materials.

"Each bit was made by different members individually and then was made like a collage," she said.

"The trees and the leaves have been made using bobbin lace technique and the hanging as a whole represents all the seasons in the Wyre Forest, so we've got light and dark greens, reds and oranges - and we are very pleased with the way it has turned out."

The grandmother of two, who also holds weekly bobbin lace making classes at Holy Innocence Church Hall in Kidderminster, added the group, which meets on the third Tuesday of each month at Lickhill Community Centre, from 7.30pm until 10pm, was also on the look-out for new members.

More information can be obtained by calling 01299 824254.