COLD comfort for worshippers in Ripon Cathedral will soon be over thanks to a mammoth effort to mark the millennium.

For the past 18 months, a 50-strong group - known as the Ripon City Stitchers - have been working wonders with their nimble-fingered embroidery to create user-friendly cushions to cover cold stone slab seating on each side of the cathedral.

By the time the stitchers have completed their task, more than six million woollen stitches will have been worked into the canvas.

The embroidered cushions will adorn stone seating carved into walls of the cathedral on either side of the nave, giving much needed "creature comforts" to worshippers using the seating.

Thirty-eight large cushions are being created, telling the story of Ripon's past, present and future.

Former Ripon Mayor, Connie Birkinshaw, who is coordinating the project, has organised an event to mark its halfway house, after 18 months of effort.

"It is bringing the stitchers together to see how things are progressing. At the moment, many people are working alone in their front rooms, the cathedral library and various other places," said Miss Birkinshaw, an 80-year-old former Bradford headteacher.

There are hopes that the project can be finished to mark the Queen's Golden Jubilee next year.

The project secured a £5,000 grant from the Millennium Small Awards Scheme.

The "halfway house" get-together for stitchers is being held at the Ripon Spa Hotel, tomorrow.