Primary school children from all over the United Kingdom have been invited to help finish a very old and famous picture called the Bayeux Tapestry. The tapestry is almost 1,000 years old and is made of many tiny stitches. It tells the story of the Norman invasion of England and the Battle of Hastings in 1066. But one part of the tapestry is missing.

The children, who are between 7 and 11 years old, will take part in a competition to imagine what that missing part looks like. They will work together as a class to design a new panel. They will then create and stitch a textile work that shows something peaceful, like a better tomorrow, instead of war.

The competition is run by the arts foundation Art Explora and the charity English Heritage. The winning classes will get a trip to London. They will see the Bayeux Tapestry at the British Museum and visit the site of the 1066 Battle of Hastings or another Norman site that English Heritage manages.

The Bayeux Tapestry is one of the most famous medieval artworks in the world. It is almost 70 metres long and is made of embroidered cloth. It shows events from 1064 to 1066, ending abruptly where a part is missing. The Battle of Hastings ended with William the Conqueror taking the English throne from Harold Godwinson, making him the first Norman king of England. This event changed English history forever.

The tapestry was usually shown at the Bayeux Museum in the northern French region of Normandy. The museum is now being renovated, so the tapestry was loaned to the British Museum in London. It returned to England for the first time in 900 years in July. The return was carefully planned. The tapestry was put in a special crate to protect it and was escorted by police. It will be on display at the British Museum in September.

The tapestry was probably made in Kent in the 11th century, not long after the battle. Bishop Odo of Bayeux, the half‑brother of William the Conqueror, asked for it to be made and then sent it to France. The tapestry is now a treasure that tells a story of the past and lets children imagine a better future.

Bayeux Tapestry arrives in UK under cover of night

Five facts about the famous artwork:
1. It is almost 70 metres long.
2. It is made of embroidered cloth.
3. It tells the story of the Norman invasion of England.
4. It ends abruptly where a part is missing.
5. It was made in the 11th century in Kent.