Patients at Vale of Leven Hospital will soon be able to gaze at local landmarks when they come for their appointments thanks to a new creative embroidery project.

Oncology nurse specialist at the hospital, Gerry O'Hare, is coordinating the creation of a 100 centimetre by 60 centimetre embroidered tapestry depicting the likes of Loch Lomond, Dumbarton Castle and the Alexandria Fountain to brighten up the Oncology Day Unit entrance.

The project has been undertaken with the help of renowned textile designer Professor Malcolm Lochhead of Glasgow Caledonian University, who has worked on similar projects with Glasgow Cathedral and Maggie's Centre.

Mr O'Hare, who has worked at the hospital for more than 20 years, said: "We were kindly given donations from members of the public with the request that the donation be spent on something to cheer up the ward environment in an artistic way.

"To get us moving along with ideas we pulled together a focus group, made up of patients and hospital staff.

"There are some beautiful landmarks in the local area and the overwhelming view from the group was that the artwork needed to feature these, so the idea of embroidery was born."

As well as the embroidery, silk headscarves will also be created based on the design for women who have lost their hair through chemotherapy

Mr O'Hare added: "We were very lucky to get Malcolm on board with the project and he kindly developed a design based on feedback from the focus group.

"He then worked with the local Embroidery Guild to start work on the embroidery.

"The project is now well under way and we are hoping to have the complete piece of work displayed by November.

"I met with some of the ladies from the Guild recently and was delighted to see the amazing progress they had made. I am sure the finished article will be worth the wait and make a great addition to the ward."