A TEAM of volunteers have helped to knit more than 3,000 poppies to commemorate the sacrifice made by local men and women killed in war.

Local craft groups and shops have worked tirelessly to

produce the flowers that are dotted across Wigton, which are believed to number between 3,000 and 4,000.

A number of local shops have decorated their windows with a remembrance theme, to mark the centenary of the World War One armistice in 1918.

As well as shops, poppies have also been attached to many of the town’s trees.

Leading the project is local resident Sandra Hodson.

She said: “A lot of hard work has gone in. Some of the hardest work has gone into sewing them onto the ribbons and putting them onto the trees.

“Everybody has contributed, which is brilliant.

“One lady has made 154 poppies.”

Sandra explained the purpose of the poppies.

She added: “It recognises everybody who died in the wars from Wigton.”

The efforts of the public have been extensive.

“About 40/50 ladies have been knitting the poppies”, said Sandra. One gentleman set himself the target of 1,000 felt poppies, I’m not sure how far he has got to that. A lady called Julie Edgar has made154 on her own.”

Sandra hopes that all of the poppies will be up by tomorrow or Sunday, after she has been working to put them up since October 24.

“The response has been great”, added Sandra.

“I am really chuffed with the response.

“It is not too late either, people can still continue to make them and put them up.

“People can put them in their gardens and stuff like that, it is definitely not too late.”

As well as the poppies, Wigton is also preparing for its very own war exhibition and film.

Led by the North Allerdale Development Trust (NADT), to Stay and to Serve: Life on Wigton’s Homefront opens to the public on November 10.

It is the culmination of a two year project by the trust, which looked at how conflicts up to and including World War One helped to shape the health and social service in Wigton.

The NADT has been involved in projects for the World War One centenary for the past five years, having previously ran the successful ‘Footprints of our Fathers’, which saw more than 1,000 people visit the exhibition and film in just 5 days.

In recognition of the work done by the trust, two of their members have been invited to Westminster Abbey to join members of the Royal Family, politicians and others that have contributed to marking the centenary of World War One in the UK.

Sandra Keaveney (trust manager) and Clare Stabler (outreach development worker) were personally invited and will represent the trust at the National Service of Thanksgiving at Westminster Abbey on November 11.

The service, which will be broadcast live on BBC One, is to remember those lost in past conflicts and to recognise those who have made a difference during the centenary commemorations.

Sandra Keaveney said: “We are hugely honoured that both Clare and I have been recognised for the work of NADT over the past 5 years.

“Both ‘Footprints of our Fathers’ and ‘To Stay and to Serve: Life on Wigton’s Homefront’ have been a privilege to work on and the whole NADT team and all the volunteers involved are immensely proud of the work produced by both projects.

“It is so important that people have an opportunity to connect with their heritage on a local level, and at this time of national remembrance, to reflect on those from our own community that sacrificed so much’’.

The exhibition and film will run until November 18 in Wigton Market Hall.

To Stay and to Serve will be shown on numerous occasions each day, during the nine days the exhibition is open.