A two-dimensional position-sensitive neutron detector has been developed at the Geesthacht Neutron Facility (GeNF). The detector is a He-3 and CF4 filled multiwire proportional counter with delay line readout and has a sensitive ;area of 300 mm x 300 mm and a high detection efficiency for wavelengths lambda > 0.15 nm. It is an important component of the new diffractometer ARES at GeNF which is dedicated to the analysis of residual stresses. The detector design to achieve excellent linearity, detection homogeneity and a spatial resolution of about 2 mm x 2 mm has been described. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.