HEBRON, West Bank (AFP) — Palestinians in the West Bank town of Hebron on Sunday 25 October unveiled what they believe is the largest embroidered dress ever sewn, in a bid to promote their local handicrafts.

Around 150 women helped make the dress, measuring 32.6 metres (35.6 yards) long and 18.1 metres (19.8 yards) wide, which took four months to complete, according to the Palestinian Children's Home, the local organisation behind the project.

Palestinian officials were on hand for the official unveiling of the gown, which project organisers hope will secure a place in the Guinness Book of World Records and spark international interest in Palestinian handicrafts.

Women living in the Israeli-occupied West Bank have increasingly turned to traditional handicrafts as a source of income in recent years as Israeli restrictions put in place during the 2000 Palestinian uprising have curtailed economic growth and contributed to high unemployment.