A HUGE beaded carousel made by a group of Clitheroe craftswomen has come out tops in a national craft competition.

The Tollhouse Beaders, based at Halfpenney's Coffee Shop and Embroidery Centre in Parson Lane, have constructed the carousel from tens of thousands of beads.

And the three foot wide and high structure, which features 11 horses, a canopy, flashing lights and music, has won the annual national challenge of the British Beadworkers Guild.

The guild challenged beading groups around the country to come up with an item with the theme "going around in circles" for display at the National Beadworking Exhibition in Daventry.

The Tollhouse Beaders are one of the biggest beading groups in the country with 30 members who spent six months creating the dazzling structure.

Member Tessa Halfpenney said: "The husband of one of our members made the wheel and we decorated it with as many beading techniques as we know.

"It took us six months to make and there is something in it from all of our members. It was a real labour of love and is truly magical."

The colourful carousel is now on display in the window of Halfpenney's Coffee Shop and Embroidery Centre, where it is catching the eye of passers-by.