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Visitors to town soar thanks to D-Day display

BBC Large group of people, some sitting, some standing, inside Southwell Minster, waiting to see the displayBBC
Many people waited more than an hour to see the exhibition

A dramatic display showing the D-Day landings of 1944 retold in crochet has boosted visitors to a Nottinghamshire town.

The Longest Yarn features 80 scenes, each a metre long, detailing the preparation, beach assaults and inland battles of the Normandy campaign.

Southwell Minster hosted the exhibition from 9-27 September and it attracted 30,000 visitors - compared to an average annual 50,000.

Some nearby businesses also reported a boost in trade, with the town described as "buzzing".

The Very Reverend Nicola Sullivan, Dean of Southwell, smiling at the camera while inside the minster
Nicola Sullivan, Dean of Southwell, said she was amazed by the number of people visiting

Around 180 knitters from across the world, including the UK, USA, Australia, New Zealand, Canada and France took part in the creation.

While it has already been on show in France, Southwell was the first venue in the UK.

The Very Reverend Nicola Sullivan, Dean of Southwell, said: "Visitors have come from all over the country.

"I was talking this morning to (people) from South Wales, from Salisbury and Edinburgh, all four corners of the United Kingdom, who have come to see this amazing exhibition.

"I am completely astonished but delighted that we have been able to welcome so many people here."

Southwell Minster A composite image with one half showing a number of crocheted marching soldiers in front of a minster window, the other half showing a crocheted scene with a tank driving off the opened bow of a shipSouthwell Minster
The scenes had been worked on by teams from across the UK and the globe

Many people waited more than an hour to see the displays, with the Minster pews being made available to those in the queue

Karen Roberts, councillor for Southwell on Newark and Sherwood District Council, said: "The streets have been buzzing, people have been coming from all over to see the exhibition.

"We have had lots of people going to the restaurants, the pubs and the shops, as well as enjoying the Minster, it has been fantastic."

Natasha Pearson, from the Mr and Mrs Fine Wine shop, said: "Anything like this is just great for Southwell, to put us on the map.

"We are proud of this town, it's beautiful and has a lot to offer and being chosen for something like this is a really nice element."

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