COMMEMORATIVE benches have been unveiled to mark the end of an intergenerational project looking at the First World War.

The project brought together around 65 people, from teenagers to people in their eighties, from the Brandon and Byshottles parish area.

Young people from Brandon Carrside Youth and Community Project have been working with older people from the community to mark the centenary of the outbreak of the First World War.

It has now been concluded with the unveiling of six poppy-inspired benches, which will be placed in Brandon, Meadowfield, Langley Moor, New Brancepeth, Esh Winning and Ushaw Moor.

Project manager Julie O’Connor said: “I think it has really changed opinions and broken down barriers.

“This is the first intergenerational project we’ve done but we’re going to continue because it worked so well.

“It’s making a difference in the village. The young people and old people are a lot more accommodating of each other and it’s broken down a lot of social barriers.”

As well as designing the benches, those taking part visited the The Royal Armouries Museum in Leeds, the Imperial War Museum in Manchester and the DLI museum in Durham, while young people also visited the battlefields of northern France.

The project was funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund and the Key Fund, while Brandon and Byshottles Parish Council paid for one of the benches.

County and parish councillor John Turnbull said: “We’re over the moon with the project. It’s tremendous.

“It’s nice to see the young people getting involved with the older people.”

The benches are being dedicated at a ceremony on Commonwealth Day, on March 13.

A flag will be raised at 11am at the Brandon Carrside centre.