A PROJECT to remember the bravery of those who fought in the First World War will be immortalised in a new book.

During his mayoral year, the former mayor of Darlington, Councillor Gerald Lee, challenged schoolchildren across the town to create artwork and poems to remember those who fought during the Great War.

Their work, which was exhibited in the town’s Crown Street Library, impressed the team at Darlington Building Society so much that they offered to help publish a booklet featuring 99 poems and artwork.

The book, named Lest We Forget, will be for sale and the original pieces will be on show at Durham Cathedral in February.

Colin Fyfe, chief executive of Darlington Building Society, said: “This was a fantastic initiative by the former Mayor and one that we felt should be recognised with a permanent record.

“It is so important that young people do not forget the sacrifices made by their great grandparents’ generation during the Great War and the effects of war on the country.

“Engaging their imaginations to create poems and artwork to commemorate this period in history has produced some wonderful pieces of work and Darlington Building Society is delighted to supporting the Lest We Forget booklet.”

Cllr Lee added: “I felt that because of the quality of the poetry written on the futility of war by Darlington primary children and the excellent artwork on peace and reconciliation completed by our secondary students, it was important that their efforts were not wasted and their thoughts and creativity were recorded for future generations.

“I am confident that everyone who peruses Lest We Forget will be duly impressed.

“I’m very grateful to Darlington Building Society for enabling the production of this booklet to act as a record of the children’s contributions.”