AN attempted break-in at The Oriental Rug Gallery in Wey Hill, on Sunday, was thwarted before thieves could destroy a unique piece of weaving on display in the window.

The culprits targeted and smashed the glass viewing window in the repairs and restoration studio, where

the Haslemere In Stitches weaving is being made as a gift for the town.

Sandre Blake, whose husband Anas Al Akhoann is using traditional methods to recreate the Haslemere coat of arms in hand dyed wool and silk, said: "Fortunately, the culprits were seen and heard while smashing the window and ran off before they could do any permanent damage to the weaving and loom.

"If they had succeeded, Haslemere would have lost a unique and valuable asset to the town, and would also have denied Haslemere the prestigious honour of being the first-ever town to have its coat of arms hand-woven on a traditional loom.

"Not to mention the five months of hard work already invested in the production of the weaving and whose initial set-up and design involved many local craftsmen and businesses in the Haslemere area.

"All this would have been lost along with the huge wave of public interest that the Haslemere In Stitches weaving project has generated in the town's coat of arms heritage."

The weaving was hung in its usual place next to the window, so that Haslemere's residents, the regular groups of school children accompanied by their teachers and passers-by, can come and watch the weaving in progress.

Mrs Blake added: "We would like to thank everyone for their continued support, which has made us all the more determined to continue with the weaving and protect it at all costs.

"We will not be deterred by those who see fit to hamper or destroy a part of Haslemere's cultural heritage.

"Meanwhile, we hope to get everything back in order in readiness for our In Stitches Open Day on Thursday."