RESIDENTS locked down in Dunster are getting out their sewing machines and remnants of fabric to make bunting to adorn the village this summer – and perhaps make it into the Guinness Books of Records.

The brainchild of the team at the Dunster Tourism Forum (DTF), the idea is to bring the community together to make the village even more attractive to visitors once lockdown is over.

The DTF has been amazed by the response to the call for crafters to help sew a pretty display of hand-made bunting. People up and down the village – as well as Exmoor locals who love Dunster – have creates bunting flags from old curtains and duvet covers, scraps of dressmaking material and unwanted clothing.

The plan is to decorate the village from the Visitor Centre, down through the High Street, up Church Street, West Street and to the GP Surgery at the end of the village. The beach chalet community is also coming together to create bunting across the waterfront.

Andy Rice, DTF chairman, said: “It’s been heart-warming to see the massive response to what was just one Facebook post asking for volunteers to help decorate our village this summer as we look forward to the end of lockdown.

“Even though we can’t be together in person at the moment, this community effort has been a great way of our villagers keeping in touch with each other, and maintaining our ‘can do’ spirit.

“Plus with so many people getting involved, we’ve got our eye on the Guinness World Record for the longest hand-made bunting in the UK – but we’ll need a lot more volunteers to achieve that.”

While strictly exercising social distancing, crafters are following a pattern and ‘how to’ videos posted on the community’s Facebook page, and delivering them to Susan Ashton (pictured) who will bring them all together.