AFTER more than three years' work and an estimated six million stitches, a celebration is planned this weekend to mark the completion of a city's Millennium project.

The Ripon City Stitchers had wanted to make a tapestry for the cathedral or the Town Hall to mark 2000, only to drop the ideas as there would have been nowhere to hang it.

Instead, the group decided to make 38 cushions to make services more comfortable for anyone seated along the stone walls in the cathedral nave.

Each is woven with a scene depicting an aspect of life in the city, and a hymn, which has been written for a service of dedication and thanksgiving at 3pm on Saturday, tells the story of the cushions.

The Dean of Ripon, the Reverend John Methuen, will lead the service, which will be attended by the Lord Lieutenant of North Yorkshire, Lord Crathorne, and Lady Crathorne, the Mayor of Ripon, Councillor David Parnaby, and the city's MP, David Curry.