A PROJECT to commemorate the end of the First World War will bring rural villages together.

That's as the Evenwood, Ramshaw & District History Society (ERDHS) and St. Paul's Church, in Evenwood, teamed up to plan commemorative displays for the remembrance period.

Called Peace Pebbles & Poppies, the groups plan to install poppies and and painted stones throughout Evenwood, Ramshaw and Evenwood Gate to commemorate the centenary.

The works will be centred around the church where the interior will be adorned with knitted poppy hangings and decorations.

Meanwhile, in the grounds the figures of 1918-2018 will be set out in hand made plastic poppies.

The church will be open to visitors from November 8 to 12.

In addition, other hangings of plastic poppies will be displayed at locations around the villages with individual poppies placed in flower tubs and random locations.

The group also intends to place 100 individually painted poppy stones following the main road through the villages just displayed on walls and posts.

Residents are asked to leave them in place until after November 11, when they will be welcome to take them as keepsakes, for their gardens or to place on the war memorial.

On Remembrance Day itself, St. Paul's Church is joining in the national call to ring the church bells at 11.02am which will be preceded by a walk from Fairfield, Evenwood to the war memorial in Evenwood cemetery for a service and the laying of wreaths and other tributes.

This week, members of the ERDHS, St. Paul's Church, Cornerstone Christian Centre and the general community got together for a craft day to assemble poppy installations.

ERDHS member, Brian Carter, said: "It was a good turnout of helpers who had an enjoyable time while painting peace stones and tying poppies to frames for display.

"The general comment from those attending was that it had been a fun day, a nice social event meeting people, commenting on each others work, admiring the end product and getting to socialise even more while having an enjoyable lunch for their hard work.

"Everyone said they were looking forward to seeing their work around the communities."

He added: "The ERDHS and St. Paul's Church would like to thank all those in the community who have knitted, crocheted or made poppies in their hundreds and those who helped on the craft day who have made the task of having a good commemorative display so much easier."