A UNION Jack tribute in flowers to men who lost their lives in the First World War has been planted next to a war memorial.

A floral tribute in red, white and blue have now been planted in new flowerbeds around the Haughton-le-Skerne war memorial in Darlington, which was built in 1920 to honour the men from Haughton, Barmpton and Great Burdon who lost their lives.

The flowers have been planted on three sides of the memorial, which is close to St Andrew’s Church, and the area facing Haughton Road is planted in the shape of a Union Jack.

Work has been carried out by volunteers to clean and repair two large poppy motifs on-site, with the third having to be removed due to wear and tear, while the flagstones have also been repointed.

Just before Remembrance Sunday the flowers will be replaced by winter pansies, also in patriotic colours, and volunteers will place a small wooden cross on each grave, with 32 wooden crosses – one for each man – placed underneath the flower flag ahead of the 100th anniversary of the Armistice.

A website will be launched in November to tell the stories of each man who was lost.