VOLUNTEERS have been busy during the coronavirus lockdown period - creating more than TWO MILES of bunting to brighten up their Somerset village.

Months of hard work behind the closed doors of homes in Dunster has culminated in the hanging of the handmade bunting, now fluttering in the wind up and down the village and Marsh.

The scheme was the brainchild of the team at the Dunster Tourism Forum (DTF) and organisers said it has brought the community together during the difficult days of lockdown and now it is making visitors smile. 

A team of some 15 volunteers - including some from as far afield as the US - got cutting, sewing and binding, creating enough bunting to stretch all the way from the Visitor Centre by the A39 out to Dunster Surgery.

The bunting there was made by the group's youngest volunteer, Sky Golding, 14.

Susan Ashton, who masterminded the team of volunteers and is responsible for many meters of bunting herself, said: “We had an incredible response to the idea for the Bunting Bonanza.

"That’s why, during lockdown, if you walked around the deserted streets of Dunster, you might have heard the gentle hum of a sewing machine. 

"We want to thank everyone who contributed to this amazing community effort – the crafters who made the bunting, those who contributed funds and fabrics, the team who erected the display. 

"And through the power of social media and the TV, we had bunting sent to us from ladies in Cornwall and donations from as far afield as the USA.

"When we see the buzz the bunting has created and hear the positive comments from visitors to our beautiful village we all have a huge sense of pride. It’s amazing what you can achieve when you come together.”

The aim is to maintain the bunting until October half-term, then remove, wash and repair it – ready for re-hanging at Easter 2021.

Below are pictures - by Nina Dodd - showing the wonderful effort:

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