TWO MONMOUTHSHIRE craftsmen are keeping the age-old tradition of handweaving alive in an area that once produced the finest flannels in the country.

Weaver Stuart Neale, 72, and designer Dennis Mulcahy set up Sioni Rhys Handweavers at a studio workshop in Pandy, near Abergavenny, where they have been making fashion textiles and traditional Carthen woollen throws using Welsh textile techniques for the past 20 years.

Mr Neale a retired Forestry Commission worker, qualified as a weaver after studying at the Scottish College of Textiles in Galashiels, whilst Mr Mulcahy is a former graduate of Newport College of Art and a former design teacher.

The garments are woven using a 100-year-old loom and a range of fabrics and colours.

Mr Neale said: "It can take over eight hours to complete a throw from start to finish and each item is unique and inspired by our Welsh heritage."

"Each item can take a day in the making and last for centuries," he added.

Their garments are sold at the nearby Cwrt Cupboard craft centre and sent to customers around the world and mostly recently to the National Trust at Dynefor.

For details visit www.sionirhys.com