KENDAL Wool Gathering, the annual celebration of the town’s connections to the trade on which its wealth was built, promises to be the biggest and best yet.

A record number of stalls selling products based on the South Lakeland town’s motto Wool is Our Bread have already booked for the fourth KWG, to be held at K Village on October 29 and 30.

In a new development KWG is also organising for the same weekend a Wool School at Kirkbie Kendal School.

Trainers of all crafts linked to the wool trade are being invited to run workshops. Activities may include spinning, weaving, knitting, felting or similar.

Anyone interested in running sessions or booking for any particular craft skill are now being asked to register.

Already booked is needle felting expert Fi Oberon, who will be sharing some of the secrets of how her childhood in the countryside that nurtured the Arts & Crafts movement, and her adulthood by the sea, influenced her to use the colours and textures of nature to build her stunning pieces.

And visitors will also have a chance to meet author Alison Mukherjee and buy her novel, ISABELLA'S BOOK, set in Georgian Kirkbie Kendal against the backdrop of the wool trade.

Also new this year is a yarn bombing event being organised by the Museum of Lakeland Life and Industry, who will also be running their own workshops in the school half-term week before the gathering.

Westmorland Agricultural Society, for the third year running, will be providing a marquee to house livestock and farmers telling their story of raising sheep.

“Kendal Wool Gathering has gone from strength to strength with numbers of exhibitors and visitors growing each year,” said chairman, Mike Glover.

“It is obvious there is a huge interest in reviving the skills and crafts associated with wool and we want to encourage and facilitate people to take part.”

By summer more than 30 stallholders had already signed up. They include the first from overseas, with one trader coming from Holland. Indications are that there will be at least 40 altogether.

Anyone interested in registering for the wool school can do so through the gathering’s web-site: www.kendalwoolgathering.co.uk