Children create Thames tapestry on display at Windsor Guildhall

A generation used to seeing history on television or computer screens has gone 'back to basics' to trace the story of the Thames.

Tapestries were once the most effective way of telling stories. Now a new tapestry telling the history of the Thames has gone on display at Windsor's Guildhall, revealing the work of children from 16 schools in Windsor, Slough and Maidenhead.

They were each given a square metre of carpet canvas along with the fabric, yarns, needles and sequins. The result is currently 100sqm long and can be seen at the Guildhall every day this week except Thursday, the last day being this Friday from 10am to 4.30pm.

The tapestry will be twice as long as it is now by the summer after continuing its tour, by which time 200 schools along the path of the Thames will have been involved.

It was masterminded by artist Lizzie Owen, who has organised several similar tapestry projects over the last decade - her first commemorated the millennium.