A STOLEN section of the Great Tapestry of Scotland has been recreated.

And this week the replacement section was unveiled at Rosslyn Chapel.

The original stitchers were forced to dig out their needles once again after the panel depicting the Apprentice Pillar at Rosslyn Chapel was swiped two years ago.

Their recreated work will now hang with the rest of the Tapestry at exhibitions ahead of it coming permanently to Galashiels in 2020.

Project historian Alistair Moffat said “What the women of Roslin have achieved is something remarkable - not only have they refused to let the miserable people who stole the original panel win, they have also poured all their love and labour into creating a stunning new panel of the Apprentice Pillar that is even more powerful.

"Their panel will have a special place in my heart and it will join its companions in the new building to house the tapestry in Galashiels”.

The original section was stolen in September, 2015, while on exhibition in Kirkcaldy Galleries.

The thief has never been caught and the panel has never been recovered.

All seven original stitchers, Margaret Humphries, Jean Lindsay, Anne Beedie, Jinty Murray, Barbara Stokes, Fiona McIntosh and Phillipa Peat, worked for hundreds of hours to embroider the replacement.

Stitcher Fiona McIntosh told us: “We were all devastated that our panel had been stolen, but we are happy now that it has been remade and delighted that it will once again take its place with the rest of the Tapestry"

From the islands to the lowlands of Scotland, over 1,000 stitchers worked for more than a year to complete the Great Tapestry of Scotland, measuring over 140 meters, telling the stories that together make up country’s history.

The project was spearheaded by author Alexander McCall Smith, who together with Mr Moffat, artist Andrew Crummy, and stitch-coordinator Dorie Wilkie, designed 160 different historical panels from pre-history to the 21st century.

The completed Tapestry has been touring Scotland since 2013 and has been viewed by over 350,000 people.

Later this year the it will go on display at the Spiers Centre in Alloa and at the Verdant Works in Dundee.

A new exhibition centre in Galashiels will house all of the panels from 2020.

Scottish Borders Council director Rob Dickson said: “The Great Tapestry will be a catalyst for creating a destination of national and international significance, and will help to strength the existing textiles innovation and heritage community in the area.

"It’s very exciting when a new panel is completed, reminding us all about Scotland’s unique and compelling story, and the important role this plays in our economy through tourism.”