THE final stitches are being put to flags, banners and bunting in preparation for Oxford’s big Olympic torch welcome.

More than 20 different groups have helped create the colourful display of 60 flags and 250 pieces of hand-painted and individually designed bunting.

They will be strewn around East Oxford when the Olympic Torch arrives on Monday.

Artist Emily Cooling, 35, from Fusion Arts Centre, said: “The flags and bunting look great; very colourful.

“I’ve been working seven days a week for about five weeks on this. We’ll definitely be ready for Monday.”

The final workshop was held on Sunday at the Fusion Arts Centre, in Princes Street.

The project, called Flags – Ribbons of Unity, was a project which launched in June with the target of creating 60 flags, hundreds of bunting triangles and three large banners for Friendship, Unity and Peace as symbolised by the Olympic Flame.

The flags, bunting and banners –which feature multicultural emblems – will now be used for events such as the Cowley Road Carnival, Mela, festivals and other celebrations.