OLYMPICS craftwork stitched by thousands of embroiderers has gone on display in Walton on Thames.
The Embroiderers Guild last year began a tribute in stitch to the Games' athletes, creating nearly 3,000 embroidered postcard sized images.
The work has been gathered for a UK exhibition - Stitching a Welcome to Athletes of the World - which depicts the life and times of more than two hundred sporting nations.
Thousands of women from ten local embroider guilds in the Greater London area took part in the project.
Jackie Ryder, Embroiderers' Guild South East England regional chairman, said: "This has been a fun project but it also had its serious side. First, we had to do our research about our allotted country.
"Some branches also had help from their country's embassy.
"Working individually and in teams members went on to create a series of hand or machine stitched, postcard-sized images that featured the culture, environment and people of the country."
Each country is represented by a series of postcards opening out like a concertina book. From the national flag at the top there is a cascade of embroidered images of national costume, customs, currency, fauna, flora, food, and landmarks.
The exhibition runs weekdays 9.15am to 5.15pm - and until 8pm on February 13 - at The Embroiderers Guild gallery in Kings Road, Walton on Thames until March 18.
