STITCH-by-stitch, the story of Scotland is unveiled in one of the world's longest tapestries, with 420 million years of history embroidered by communities across the country.

The Great Tapestry of Scotland measures 470 feet long with chapters in the country's history, from pre-history to modern times, told in 160 beautifully detailed panels. The work, on show at the Scottish Parliament, was devised by author Alexander McCall Smith along with historian Alistair Moffat and artist Andrew Crummy.

One thousand stitchers aged from four to 94 wove their mark through Scotland's history to create the embroidery, which took more than 50,000 hours to complete. Presiding Officer Tricia Marwick said: "I would encourage people from across Scotland to come see this magnificent artwork. There is no other piece of art out there that tells so much about Scotland's story."

Picture: Stewart Attwood