SIX years after its inception Wigan's much acclaimed Parish Map is on show in its entirety for the first time.

For over a year hundreds of craft enthusiasts stitched their way into the local history books by producing a modern day 300ft Bayeux tapestry to mark the Millennium.

Busy needles knitted, embroidered, sewed and crocheted, and painted magical memories of the past into squares for inclusion into a tapestry for the future.

Now the magnificent work, pieces of which went on show in the Millennium Dome, are on exhibition for all to see for two years at Wigan's History Shop after an official opening by the Mayor Coun Geoff Roberts.

A summer programme of events to coincide with the show has been planned.

Schools, individuals and societies all played their part in producing work for the giant map which is made up of 28 local sections -- including Leigh, Westleigh, Golborne, Lowton, Atherton, Tyldesley-Hindsford and Astley.

The original idea came from the Wigan branch of Soroptimists International in 1997, but it was adopted by the borough to celebrate the new century and put together at the Professional Development Centre, Hindley.

Each month throughout the exhibition period a different parish will be featured. In May Atherton will take pride of place, while Leigh's turn comes just in time for the town carnival on July 26-27.