Lost scarf found and restored for Pride event

Helen Simpson created the scarf after the first Norwich Pride in 2009

A rainbow scarf measuring 40m (131ft) in length has been restored ahead of a city's annual Pride event.

The scarf, which was first made 15 years ago for Norwich Pride, was feared lost or "binned" but was found in church storage "eaten by mice".

A group from the Octagon Unitarian Chapel and Norwich Quakers have washed and repaired it so it can be displayed in the city centre on Saturday.

Artist Helen Simpson had the idea to create the scarf after taking part in the first Norwich Pride march in 2009.

The scarf will be hung in The Forum to celebrate Norwich Pride on Saturday

The knitted symbol was made in response to "a small group of Christians" who performed a counter-demonstration.

"They held placards with bible quotes, and 'the wages of sin is death' was one of them," Ms Simpson said.

"I was worried that many would be left assuming all churches felt this way, so I wrote to every church in Norwich and asked them to knit a small square to add to a scarf."

More than 1,500 squares make up the scarf, which was blessed at City Hall in its first year and then hung on the City Council's balcony annually for Pride.

This year's event is expected to attract about 20,000 people.

It will feature a march through the city centre, as well as performances, art exhibitions and talks.

Ms Simpson and five other knitters worked to incorporate the progress flag

Ms Simpson said it was unclear how the scarf stopped being displayed and ended up in storage.

She and five other knitters have restored it and added a new panel representing the progress flag.

It includes black, brown, pink, pale blue and white stripes, to represent marginalised people of colour in the LGBTQ+ community, as well as the trans community, and those living with HIV/AIDS.

This year the scarf will be carried from the Octagon Chapel to St Peter Mancroft Church before being taken to The Forum and hung across the atrium on Pride day.