A VILLAGE is launching a crowdfunding appeal to raise £1,500 for two First World War "Tommies" to use as symbols of sacrifice and remembrance in its memorial garden.

The parish council at Romanby, near Northallerton, has been working for three years to restore and regenerate the special garden. Work has been carried out to repair the landmark clocktower and improve the beds and landscaping.

Council chairman Stuart Bradnam, a retired military officer, said they had been looking for an art installation to complete the work.

“We created a space in the garden and just didn’t know what to put in there, then we saw the Tommies which are being featured as part of the 'There But Not There' charity campaign to mark the centenary of the end of the First World War.

“They seemed ideal, so now we are asking people to help us buy them through the crowdfunding appeal."

The Tommies are six-feet tall aluminium silhouettes of Great War soldiers. Costing £750 each, they are being sold by There But Not There and money raised will go towards charities including the Commonwealth War Graves Foundation, Walking with the Wounded, Help for Heroes and Combat Stress.

Mr Bradnam added: "They are powerful symbols of sacrifice and remembrance for casualties of all conflicts, past and present, and will be a fitting and appropriate symbol of remembrance from our community for years to come.

“All money gifted, via the Just Giving initiative, will be used by the parish council to purchase and install the Tommies on a stone plinth in the memorial garden."

“The memorial garden is a focal point that everybody knows, so we wanted the community to get behind us to raise the money needed for the silhouettes. We are planning an event in the summer to open the garden and the idea would be to have these installed by then, and of course it will add to the very important Remembrance celebrations this year.”

Go to justgiving.com/crowdfunding/romanbyparishcouncil-there-but-not-there-tommies