A RARE carpet that was turned down as a Coronation souvenir for King George VI has been added to an historic collection in Kidderminster.

The carpet featured symbols of all the Commonwealth countries in 1937 but it was rejected because authorities felt it was inappropriate for the Union Flag to be trodden on.

The 75 ins by 53 ins 100 per cent wool Axminster was one of only six made by Woodward Grosvenor in 1936 for the Coronation in May the following year and the only one known to still exist.

It has been donated by the family of the late Albert Meredith, who worked as a senior tuner for 20 years at the carpet firm's Worcester Cross Works.

"A lot of firms around the country would have put forward various trial ideas to try and get them accepted as official souvenirs," said Kidderminster historian, Melvyn Thompson. "This one wasn't taken on and it came into the possession of Mr Meredith, who worked as a senior tuner, which meant he was a mechanic responsible for getting the looms working.

"We are thrilled to have it as a donation because of its uniqueness."

Mr Thompson said it was not known what had happened to the other five but they might have been scrapped when it was rejected by the authorities, even though Bewdley's Stanley Baldwin was Prime Minister for the third time from 1935 until 1937.

Mr Meredith worked for Woodward Grosvenor, now part of Brintons. The carpet was woven in sheds on the site of the old indoor market.

Mr Mereditch left the carpet to his daughter Dione Jevons and son, Martin Meredith, after his death in 1954 and it will now be on display until the end of August at The Weaver's Loft, New Meeting Church in Church Street, open every Saturday between 10am and 12.30pm.