LACEMAKER Margaret Goode has scooped one of the top prizes at the prestigious 10th World Lace Congress.

Mrs Goode was one of five prizewinners at the event, organised by the International Bobbin and Lace Organisation (OIDFA) in Nottingham.

The competitors had to create and work an original design based upon two samples of antique Nottingham lace. Margaret chose to decorate an evening bag with a silver needlelace flower pattern.

Other prizewinners came from Belgium, Japan and France and the three-day congress also had delegates from all over the world including Japan, Israel, South Africa, Canada and America. The next congress is being held in Prague in 2004.

This is the second major prize for Margaret in a year -she was a winner in the National Lace Guild competition, Dreaming Dreams, in Birmingham in October. Her entry was a skeleton's head filled with nightmarish pictures, each made in a different style of lace.

Margaret has been making lace for many years but only started to create her own designs when she retired to live in Draughton in 1991. She started a class for the Craven University of the Third Age (U3A).

She is also a member of the Craven Guild of Lacemakers, which meets at Skipton's Swadford Centre on the third Wednesday of each month. Further details of the guild can be obtained from Debbie Gomersall on 01729 830589 or Liz Fryers on 01282 843777.