Thousands of knitted poppies mark village Remembrance

A knitting group has created a display of more than 2,000 knitted poppies to decorate a Shropshire village church for Remembrance Day.

Jayne Edwards, who led the group, said: "I think it's just such an unsettled world at the moment and I think it's very important that community gets together."

The poppies went up around St Mary's Church in Moreton just over a week ago and will remain there until this coming Sunday.

Sue Orton, who worked with Edwards on the project, said it was "beautifully done with the Union Jacks and it brought a tear to everybody's eyes when they walked into church".

Orton said the idea had come from Edwards and the aim had been to "do something very positive in the church to encourage people to recognise, particularly remembrance".

The knitting group has just 10 members and Edwards said: "There's been flames coming off knitting needles and crochet hooks for the last few months."

Among the red poppies there are a handful of white, purple, blue and black poppies to represent all who lost their lives in wars.

Edwards said: "It's just a time we thought people ought to sit and reflect."

Orton said the poppies, which appeared in smaller numbers last year, had received a "very good response" from villagers.

Once Sunday is over, Edwards said most of the poppies would be stored at her house.

"I think they'll be going everywhere, probably in the garage, I suspect," she said.

"Don't tell my husband," she added.

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