THE Last Invasion Tapestry has been removed from St Marys Church Hall, in Fishguard, after being exhibited there for almost five years.

The tapestry exhibition opened in February 1997 to mark the bicentenary of the Last Invasion of Fishguard.

Recently, trustees of the Fishguard Invasion Centre Trust decided to close the exhibition as the lease on the church hall could not be renewed after December 31st.

They have emphasised that the closure is temporary and say they hope to eventually find a permanent home for the tapestry in a proposed Last Invasion Centre.

The tapestry was taken down on Wednesday and is currently stored in a private home where it is being kept warm and dry. It will shortly be transferred to Scolton Manor, the county council-run country park museum, where it will be stored temporarily.

Audrey Walker, chairman of the Trust, said efforts were continuing to find temporary exhibitions for the tapestry until a permanent home could be secured.

Possibilities include exhibiting it at the National Eisteddfod in St Davids next year and at Fishguards twin town of Loctudy in Brittany.

Other options include taking it to a venue in Dublin as part of a knitting and stitching show run by Creative Exhibitions.

Weve looked at many venues and are keeping our options open said Audrey Walker. The problem is that its extremely difficult to show, as its 100 feet long.

The tapestry was commissioned by the Fishguard Arts Society, designed by Elizabeth Cramp and created by 75 local stitchers. A total of 130,000 people visited it during its exhibition at Fishguard.

Pictured taking the tapestry away are (left to right): chairman of the Fishguard Invasion Centre Trust Audrey Walker, designer of the tapestry,. Elizabeth Cramp, and embroidery adviser Rozanne Hawksley.