Weaver's blanket gifted to French president by PM

A blanket made from the coats of Cumbrian sheep and woven locally has made its way to a palace in France.

Prime Minister Andy Burnham presented the blanket to French President Emmanuel Macron during a visit to see the Bayeux Tapestry at its new exhibition in the British Museum earlier this month.

The blanket - now taken back to the Élysée Palace in Paris - is the craftwork of Sedbergh weaver Laura Rosenzweig, who runs Laura's Loom and has been in the industry for 20 years.

She said it was a testament to "what wonderful things we can produce in this country".

All of her wool comes from local farms, she said, and is processed in facilities across the England-Scotland border.

Rosenzweig said she found out about the request when she received a voicemail from Number 10, which said: "This is official, please call us back."

They were looking to receive the blanket for the very next day, she discovered, but they could not tell her why or who it was being given to until after it had been handed over.

She thought the French president was probably the most famous person she knows to own her craftwork, which was "a bit surreal".

She added: "I think the Prime Minister was looking to give a gift that showcased the best of Britain.

"One of the things we do well is textiles, and I think wool's having a new moment."

She said her daughter told her: "Just think, Mum, you've got blankets on the beds of friends, family, strangers, and now presidents."

Follow BBC Cumbria on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram and listen to Radio Cumbria on BBC Sounds.