TIME is running out for crafty Bewdley residents who want to leave their mark on the town's new tapestry.

Textile artist, Cynthia Pearson, of Kidderminster Road, has organised the project to mark the end of the flood defence works.

The first tapestry, which is on display at Bewdley Medical Centre, was completed by Cynthia in 1998 and she hopes to unveil the new one by Christmas.

She has received around 60 completed portraits so far, including many pets, volunteers at the Bewdley Museum tearooms, workers at the Severn Valley Railway, the former Mayor and Mayoress, Liz Davies and Anne Mace and many residents.

Mary Lynch, of Severnside South, has made several portraits of the flood barrier contractors, Volker Stevin, who have provided panoramic photos of Severnside South, from Lax Lane to Bewdley Bridge, for the tapestry's background.

She spent four weeks working on the figures, which include the project manager, Roger Prestwood and a workman known as Dave the Hair, as he regularly changed the colour of his hair.

Mary said: "The contractors were part of our lives for four years and played an important part in the town, so it seemed a good idea to include them."

Cynthia said she was excited about starting the tapestry and was still appealing for more residents to send her their portraits before the deadline of Tuesday, July 4.

She added: "I have been overwhelmed with the response I have had from people. I am very excited. Once I have received all the figures I will start placing them on the background and then I will have the big job of stitching them all on."

Figures must be stitched using fabric and thread and will need to be created on an inch to a foot scale.

A workshop will be held at Bewdley Museum's Wyre Forest Gallery on Saturday between 11am and 3.30pm for anyone who would like to get some advice for their work. There will also be fabric for people to use, although Cynthia recommended visitors bring their own sewing equipment.

Anyone who wants to submit a figure can drop it off at the Tourist Information Centre in Load Street, the Bewdley Festival office at Snuff Mill Warehouse in Park Lane or 11 Kidderminster Road.