OKEHAMPTON'S millennium wall hanging will not be closeted in glass despite fears that it will be subject to 'grubby hands'.
The issue was raised at a meeting of Okehampton Town Council after comments from townspeople that the masterpiece should be protected.
Presented to the town by Castle Quilters, who spent 18 months on the wall hanging, the work now takes pride of place in the Charter Hall.
Member of Castle Quilters Sue Enderson told the meeting last week it was there to be enjoyed and would survive as it was for 100 years.
'It will really not hurt it if the odd person touches it — if it gets dirty it can be cleaned,' she said.
Mrs Enderson explained that it was not a picture but a textile hanging and would not look as lovely behind glass.
'I appreciate that people are concerned about it but we would like it to stay as it is,' she said.
'With a lot of quilts they are considered so beautiful that they are folded up and put in a cupboard somewhere — more harm comes to them that way than if they were hanging on a wall.'
The wall hanging, made of cotton and polyester, would be Scotchguarded, she said.