Remembrance

Thousands Of Knitted Poppies Take Over Church For WWI Centenary

Knitted poppies take over Norfolk church to mark WWI centenary CREDIT SWNS

Each poppy represents an individual killed in the war and named on a Norfolk war memorial (Picture: SWNS).

A display of 15,000 knitted and crocheted poppies have gone on show at a church to mark the 100th anniversary of the end of the First World War.

The handmade red flowers at St Peter Mancroft Church in Norwich, Norfolk, represent each fallen soldier named on a war memorial in the county.

People from across the globe sent in the moving creations after a year-long campaign by Norfolk County Council.

Sarah Salmon, who works for the local authority and organised the display, said: "A lot of them have come in with family history stories.

"Somebody said the best thing was, even though they were following a pattern, each of the poppies is unique, just like the soldiers, and I think that's a really fitting tribute."

Knitted poppies take over Norfolk church to mark WWI centenary 2 CREDIT SWNS — Many of the poppies have been made from recycled materials by knitting and crocheting groups based in Norfolk's libraries (Picture: SWNS).

Local brownie and scout groups also made dozens of the flowers, while others came from as far afield as the United States.

Commemorations are planned to mark the centenary of Armistice Day on 11 November.

Reverend Edward Carter, vicar of St Peter Mancroft, said: "To think that this display will be here this week is great because all sorts of people will be more than welcome to come in and just enjoy seeing it and remember, actually, what they represent."

The poppies will remain in the church until 30 October, before being divided and sent to to the county's libraries.